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THE 

BAPTISTS IN AMERICA; 

A NARRATIVE 

OF THE 

DEPUTATION FROM THE BAPTIST UNION IN ENGLAND, 



UNITED STATES AND CANADA. 

\ 



BY THE REV. F. A.^COX, D.D., LL.D. ; 



THE REV. J. HOBY, D.D. 



NEW-YORK: 

LEAVITT, LORD & Co., 180, BROADWAY. 

CROCKER & BREWSTER ; GOULD, KENDALL & LINCOLN, 

BOSTON. BENNET & BRIGHT, UTICA. 

183G. 



1 



*%> 



H. LUDWIG. PRINTER, 

121. Washineton-st. 



PREFACE 



i 



To have written a book of general description and 
amusing delineation of men and manners, might have 
been an easy undertaking, after travelling some thousands 
of miles in America ; but it could have possessed little 
novelty or practical utility. 

The object of appointing deputies from the baptist 
body of christians in England, being principally to 
obtain information respecting their kindred community 
beyond the Atlantic, and to hold a representative inter- 
course with them, our mission naturally assumed, not 
only a religious, but a denominational character; so 
that while we have by no means overlooked or neg- 
lected intercourse with other parties, the reader, in perus- 
ing the following pages, is requested to keep in view 
this more definite purpose of our visit. We have chosen 
to adhere mainly to what the title-page expresses, that 
the volume, though compressed, may become as much 
as possible, an authentic book of reference. 



IV PREFACE. 

Aware of human infirmities, we will not presume to 
have entirely escaped the warping influence of preju- 
dice ; our report is necessarily denominational, but not, 
we trust, offensively sectarian. Precluded by our plan 
from minute references to others, we have, nevertheless, 
the highest satisfaction in recording the general pros- 
perity of the whole christian body in America. The 
Spirit has been evidently poured down from on high 
upon all, and we fervently pray that it may descend in 
perpetual and still more copious effusions. 

We dare aver that in every statement, truth has been 
our anxious aim ; whether we have been successful or 
not, let the public and the critics judge, apart from per- 
sonal, political, or polemical bias. 

Placed as we have been in a dilemma on the slave 
question; and, antecedently to the publication of our 
own account, attacked by some anonymous writers 
in newspapers, and in one accredited public document 
issued in the north, whose authors and abettors forgot 
our unquestionable privilege of being first heard ; we 
now request a deliberate perusal of our statement. We 
have suffered some months to elapse in silence on our 
part, because we wished to be dispassionate. Here then 
is our case, — let it be examined ; we have the approba- 
tion of conscience, and the testimony of enlightened 
men ; and if we cannot convince all objectors of the 
wisdom of our proceedings at New York, we have the 
inward satisfaction of being in undeviating concurrence 



PREFACE. V 

with all who unite in seeking the universal emancipa- 
tion of man, alike from the fetters of bondage, the 
degradation of ignorance, and the slavery of iniquity. 

We add our unhesitating testimony to that of our 
predecessors, in favour of what is denominated the 
purely "voluntary principle," in support of religion. 
All the observations we were able to make during our 
widely-extended journey, confirmed our persuasion of 
its being, in all respects, incomparably more efficacious 
than the "compulsory system;" nor is it any objection 
to this principle, that, in upholding public worship, men 
voluntarily bring themselves under legal responsibilities. 

F. A. C. 

J.H. 

April, 1836. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE 
INTRODUCTORY, 9 

CHAPTER H. 

JOURNEY THROUGH PHILADELPHIA, BALTIMORE, AND WASHING- 
TON, TO RICHMOND, 16 

CHAPTER HI. 

THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION, 47 

CHAPTER IV. 

DEPARTURE FROM RICHMOND. — ACCOUNTS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS 

AT BALTIMORE AND NEW-YORK, 81 

CHAPTER V. 

STATEMENT RESPECTING THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF THE 

ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY AT NEW-YORK, 100 

CHAPTER VI. 

JOURNEY THROUGH NEW HAVEN AND NEW BEDFORD TO BO«- 



TON. — PUBLIC MEETINGS 



125 



CHAPTER VII. 

DR. COX'S JOURNEY THROUGH NEW ENGLAND TO THE CANADAS, 
AND BV BUFFALO TO UTICA. 

Section I. — Boston to Lowell. — Haverhill. — Public Baptism in the 

River at Dover, 139 

Section II. — Kennebunk. — Associations at Parsonsfield. — Revivals. — 

Passage of the White Mountains, 143 

Section III. — Visit to Lisbon, at the Anniversary Meeting of the 

Free-will Baptists, 153 

Section IV. — Progress from Sugar Hill to Montreal, . . . 167 
Section V. — Montreal. — Journey through the woods of Lower 

Canada to Chatham, Bredalbane, and Fort Covrington, . . . 177 



Vlll CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



Section VI.— Upper Canada.— Niagara.— Camp Meeting, 
Section VII. — General Remarks and Recommendations with Refer- 
ence to the Religious Culture of the Canadas, .... 214 
Section VUL— From Buffalo to Utica, by the Erie Canal, . . 238 

CHAPTER VIII. 

DR. HOBY'S JOURNEY INTO THE WEST. 

Section I.— Boston to Pittsburgh, 247 

Section II.— Pittsburgh to Albion, 264 

Section III.— Albion to Utica, 291 

CHAPTER IX. 

HAMILTON. — UTICA. — SCHENECTADY. — SARATOGA. — ALBANY. — DI- 
VISION OF THE CHURCH THERE, AND REVIVAL, . . . 314 

CHAPTER X. 

.BR. COX'S JOURNEY TO THE STATE OF MAINE. 

From Albany through New- York and Boston to Portland. — Sacra- 
mental Sabbath. — Brunswick. — Topsham. — Merry-meeting Bay. — 
Augusta. — Waterville. — Account of the College and the Com- 
mencement. — Visit to Bangor. — Lumber Mission. — Indian Sertl. - 
ment. — Account of the Country, and of the Baptist Denomination 
in Maine, 335 

CHAPTER XL 

INSTITUTION AT NEW HAMPTON. — ANDOVER. — SAI.FM. — NEAVTON 

THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION. MK. COBB. — MEETING AT FANEUIL 

HALL. AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION. — NEWEUR YPORT. 

— WHITEFIELD's TOMB. — CHURCHES AT BOSTON, .... 359 

CHAPTER XII. 

DR. COX'S TOUR FROM BOSTON, THROUGH FLYMOUTH AND NEW- 
FORT, TO PROVIDENCE, 399 

CHAPTER XIII. 

COMMENCEMENT OF BROWN UNIVERSITY. — COURSE OF STUDY. — 

JOYCE HETH. ROGER WILLIAMS' PLACE OF LANDING. — WOK- 

CESTER ASSOCIATION. — CAMP MEETING. SPRINGFIELD. — HART- 

-FORD AND THE ASSOCIATION. NORTH AMPT ( N.— A LBA N Y AND 

PASSAGE DOWN THE HUDSON. — FINAL VISIT TO NEW-YORK, . 408 



CHAPTER XIV. 

80MMARY VIEW OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION IN THE FMTED 
STATES, 



STATISTICS, 



448 

471 



A 



NARRATIVE. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



" What do you think of America ?" — This is one of 
the most frequent of the many questions addressed to a 
visitor in the United States, and surely it is one of the 
most natural ; though an eager curiosity has sometimes 
been remarked upon by travellers, as if it were discredit- 
able to national character. But would any of the de- 
nouncers of the inquisitive " Yankees," (a name which 
the New Englander appropriates with pride) be willing 
that they should treat their visitor's researches into the 
mental, moral, and physical features of the country with 
indifference ? Would they be willing to have it supposed 
that their opinions would not repay even the trouble of 
eliciting, or that their books were not worth the reading ? 
Ought not this anxiety, though a little feverish in its 
degree, to be regarded as useful in its tendency, rather 
than scoffed at as ridiculous ? 

The principle upon which the present work is con- 
structed being that of avoiding indiscriminate censure, 
which would be unjust, and undistinguishing panegyric, 

2 



10 



INTRODUCTORY. 



which would be injudicious, it is fair to observe at the? 
outset upon the questioning habits of the western world, 
that as curiosity is one of the elements of our mental 
constitution, and is the one great instrument of acquir- 
ing knowledge, if Americans possess more of this spirit 
than ourselves, which the very objection seems to imply, 
it does but afford an evidence of their intellectual vigour, 
and may suggest the caution that we do not allow our- 
selves to be beguiled by self-confidence and sluggish- 
ness into the loss of the race and rivalry of knowledge. 
If, however, the reproach be intended solely to represent 
their sensitiveness with regard to the conclusions to 
which their friends from the "Father- land" may come 
respecting themselves or their institutions, then it may 
be viewed as, at least, complimentary. It presupposes 
that our judgment is thought to be of some importance ; 
and that as an older and more advanced country, we are 
competent to form some estimate of their intellectual 
and moral condition. Why should we seem to spurn 
as a meanness, or contemn as a folly ; even an excessive 
eagerness to obtain the approving smile of Britain upon 
their efforts, which a generous rivalship will not with- 
hold, and which will promote a friendship between us 
that must be reciprocally beneficial ? United by a com- 
mon origin, a common language, a common Chris- 
tianity, we are capable, if ready to act in fraternal com- 
bination, of impressing a character upon the future des- 
tinies of the world. 

In some points of view, indeed the question proposed. 
Whether for the purpose of eliciting praise or challenging 
criticism, scarcely admits of a very direct or a very de- 
finite answer. Vague and general terms may easily be 
used in reply, which, when analysed, have hardly a 



INTRODUCTORY. 11 

meaning, and which are often the substitutes rather 
than the expressions of intelligent ideas. It is true that 
there is a far greater identity among the confederated 
republics of America than among the separate king- 
doms of Europe ; but time must be allowed for them to 
be moulded into a general homogeneous uniformity. If 
the inquiry regarded particular states or sectional divi- 
sions, a general outline, even of the ever-fluctuating 
transatlantic world, approximating national character 
in each, might be given ; but we must be content at 
present with few generalizations, and allow the hand of 
lime to amalgamate and prepare the colours for the ulti- 
mate exhibition of a well-defined and finished portrai- 
ture of the whole. 

If, however, it would be difficult to furnish a general 
feature, it is not so to describe a general feeling. The 
progress of political events has combined with the in- 
crease of commercial and social intercourse, to awaken 
in the minds of the great majority on the other side of 
the Atlantic, a sentiment which we believe is exten- 
sively reciprocated on this, that the endeavour to pro- 
mote dislike of each other among either people by par- 
tial and prejudiced representations, must be discounte- 
nanced by both, and that nothing can be more desirable 
than a sincere and permanent union. It is not exclu- 
sively or primarily to statesmen and legislators we must 
look ; but to men who can coalesce upon another and 
a nobler principle than the politics of this world supply. 
It must be based on Christianity, the prevalence of 
which in both countries is already giving indications 
that the time is hastening when this consummation of 
all pious wishes and prayers will be accomplished. 

Without attempting to reply in general terms or by 



12 INTRODUCTORY. 

nice discriminations to the question so often proposed 
abroad and re-echoed at home, " What do you think of 
America ? " we shall endeavour to furnish an account 
so faithful and impartial, that every reader may perceive 
what we must think, and be enabled to form a correct 
judgment for himself. 

As travellers usually commence with their personal 
adventures, and make them throughout the great point 
upon which their recitals are to concentrate, we may be 
expected to follow in so tempting a course. It would 
certainly be easy to gratify friendship, or provide a feast 
for criticism, in this manner ; but we feel much more 
inclined to omit every thing of this kind, and should at 
once request the reader merely to imagine that we left 
home, journeyed to Liverpool, and crossed the Atlantic 
to New York, were it not that the goodness and great- 
ness of God demand an admiring and a grateful record. 
We may be permitted, therefore, to deviate, if, indeed, 
deviation it may be called, from a general rule, in this 
instance, because we cannot pass over in silence the 
striking manifestations of an ever-wakeful Providence. 

On the second day of our voyage, (March 13th, 
1835,) a contrary wind impelled us towards the coast 
of Ireland. The captain had placed a man in the bow 
of the ship, on one side, to look out, while he with his 
telescope watched on the other. The vessel was sail- 
ing about nine or ten knots an hour. On a sudden a 
voice exclaimed, " There is a porpoise playing about, 
exactly abreast of us." The mate, standing close by, 
applied his glass, and exclaimed, " A porpoise, it is a 
buoy ! " The listening ear of the captain caught the 
sound, and uttering with a stentorian voice the words 
« Helm up — 'bout ship 1 " he ran to the helm with an 



INTRODUCTORY. 13 

eagerness that at once exhibited our situation. For a 
moment or two the rope by which it was turned caught 
but was happily disentangled. We had, as with the 
velocity of lightning, shot by the mark that warned us 
of shoals and dangers ; and had the ship missed stays, 
all had been over. As it was, we expected every in- 
stant to strike ; and the nature of the case would have 
required an immediate launch of the boats in a bois- 
terous sea, at the approach of night, and with a south- 
west wind increasing to a gale. We repeated to each 
other the words, " The will of the Lord be done f 
though, even at the crisis of danger, we were not alto- 
gether destitute of the hope that the promise would be 
fulfilled in us, " he shall preserve thy going out and thy 
coming in." 

Tempestuous as the weather proved, we were never- 
theless able to maintain worship on board once on every 
Sabbath, and to pay some little attention to the chil- 
dren of the steerage passengers, by having a kind of 
Bible class. 

On the 27th, when crossing the banks of Newfound- 
land, we were startled, at five in the morning, by the 
vociferations of the mate, calling to the captain below, 
" Ice, sir, ice ! " We were running at the rate of ten 
knots an hour, directly upon one of those drifting masses 
that descend from the north, during the months of 
April, May, and June, known by the name of icebergs. 
It was beautiful, indeed, in the grey light of the morn- 
ing, but too clearly resembled other objects of sense, 
which are at once attractive and destructive. This dan- 
ger was skilfully avoided ; but the increase of the wind, 
and a storm of forty-eight hours, which drove us three 
hundred miles from our course, and shivered every sail 

2* 



14 INTRODUCTORY. 

of another ship that had started with us from Liverpool, 
gave a full though fearful opportunity of (: seeing the 
works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." 
Watery mountains rose in magnificent succession, and 
appeared every moment ready to overwhelm us ; yet we 
often ascended from the liquid valleys and scaled the 
watery heights with a dignified ease and triumph, as 
if our floating ark were maintaining a desperate, but 
ever-successful struggle with the roaring elements 
around. Frequently, indeed, the froth and foam-cov- 
ered summits of these Alpine peaks and ridges, called 
by the sailors " curlers/' would pour in hogsheads of 
water upon us, and dash with irresistable fury across the 
deck ; or, when prevented by dexterous management, 
would seem to deal forth upon our agtiated ship the 
blows of some maddened giant's hand. Awful was the 
solitude — awful the contrasted silence of the ship's com- 
pany and the thunder of conflicting elements — awful, 
too, the frequent descent of the wind perpendicularly, 
holding us in long suspense, as if resolved to push and 
bear us down to the depths — and awful the occasional 
suspension of our gallant bark upon the top of the white 
billows, when every timber trembled, as in terror, while 
about the next moment to be precipitated to the yawn- 
ing gulf below ! What moments were these for humilia- 
tion before God. for solemn searchings of heart, andfor 
the secret breathings of fervent prayer ! What moments 
these for tender recollections, yet filial and firm depen- 
dence on omniscient love ! 

Yet was the scene full of beauty as well as grandeur. 
Who that has never witnessed similar exhibitions can 
conceive of the variety of forms into which the giant 
waves were tossed by the tempest ; the majesty and 



INTRODUCTORY. 15 

terror of their motions ; the ever-limiting, ever- widen- 
ing horizon of view ; the continual shifting of the fine 
perspective of rolling billows and mountain ranges ; the 
frequent lifting up of the waters into a kind of perpen- 
dicular cliff or apparent head-land crowned with fleecy 
snow and streaked with inimitable colours, as if a thou- 
sand Niagaras were there ! The wind would some- 
times catch the top of a wave and disperse it in a furi- 
ous spray which, in its diffusion, would reflect innumer- 
able rainbows ; while immediately beneath the foaming 
and curling summit would appear, for a depth of seve- 
ral feet, streams and streaks of transcendently clear, 
bright, living colours, contrasting with the general hue 
of the ocean. Mountains of deep indigo were crowned 
with summits of brilliant green, and these again crested 
with white foam, which sometimes blended with other 
cataracts, and spread into silvery sheets. Nothing could 
be at once more beautiful, and more terrible. We 
thought of the power and the grace of Him, who, in the 
days of his humanity, said to the troubled sea, " Peace, 
be still ! " and whose gracious providence at length 
permitted us to enjoy " a great calm ! " 

When we approached the shores of America, a sud- 
den gale prevented our doubling a point of land which 
is technically termed " The Hook," and compelled us to 
cast anchor. Anxious to reach the point of our first 
destination, we availed ourselves of a pilot boat which 
dashed along like a " thing of life," and brought us to 
" our desired haven.'' Just as we were discussing the 
question of immediate arrangements, an inquiring voice 
— it was that of T. Purser, Esq., — was heard to pro- 
nounce our names ; and in one quarter of an hour we 
had made a friend and found a home. 



16 



CHAPTER II. 



WASHINGTON, TO RICHMOND. 

After a brief interview with a few friends, we 
left New York on the 16th of April, and proceeded by 
steam packets and railroads in the usual course by the 
Rariton, to Amboy ; whence we crossed to Trenton, 
the seat of the state government, and went down the 
Delaware to Philadelphia. 

We were given to understand that the heavy fall 
of snow which enveloped us during at least half the 
distance, did not occasion any great privation in point 
of scenery ; a statement which frequent glimpses of 
the low and swampy shores of New Jersey corrobo- 
rated. Afterwards, in sailing between this state and 
Pennsylvania, the latter appeared more rich in cultiva- 
tion, though the Delaware itself was still the finest 
object. The appearance of some of the villages is 
attractive, particularly Burlington, which looks smil- 
ingly upon the serpentine course of the river. The 
approach to Philadelphia is imposing, the city seeming 
to extend in a graceful sweep along shore for two 
or three miles. As we spent some days here, of which 
one was the sabbath, an opportunity was afforded of 
acquiring much information, and inspecting many pub- 
lic institutions. 

The theological and literary seminary at Hadding- 



PHILADELPHIA. 17 

ton, about four miles from the city, is built on a com- 
manding eminence. It is placed under the effective 
superintendence of Mr. Dagg, late pastor of the bap- 
tist church in Sansom-street. Being of recent estab- 
lishment, there are at present only about eight students 
in divinity, and fifty youths in the neighbourhood. 
The studies of the literary and theological pupils are 
separately conducted. 

This institution is under the patronage of the Phila- 
delphia Baptist Association. Arrangements are in 
progress to introduce the students to the manual labour 
system, as a means of preserving health and diminish- 
ing the expenses of education. At the time of our 
arrival, another baptist seminary was forming at Bur- 
lington, chiefly we believe through the exertions of Dr. 
Brantly, whom we had the pleasure of visiting. It has 
since been opened, and our devout wish is that both 
may flourish and bear fruit to the glory of God. 

The water-works at Fair Mount, on the Schuylkill, 
are the boast of the Philadelphians, which a celebrated 
traveller declared he would mortify them by not visit- 
ing. He had better not, for a similar reason, deign to 
look at St. Paul's or Westminster Abbey in London, the 
Jardin des Plantes in Paris, and the Vatican in Rome. 
They are, to say the least, worthy of inspection, not 
only as works of public utility, but as an ornament of 
the river side. The design of their construction is to 
supply the city with water. The reservoirs are on the 
top of a hill, and contain upwards of twelve million 
gallons. The machinery is simple, being turned by five 
large wheels propelled by the water of the Schuylkill. 
The pistons work in cylinders placed horizontally. If 
all the wheels were at work, they would raise seven mil- 



IS 



PHILADELPHIA. 



lion of gallons in twenty-four hours. In case of fire, 
it is only necessary to screw the hose to hydrants, 
which are placed at suitable distances. 

The Penitentiary is a goal for solitary confinement, 
to the superintendence of which Mr. George Dudley, 
nephew of Mr. Charles Dudley of the British and 
Foreign Bible Society, is appointed. The whole ar- 
rangement is excellent in point of cleanliness and 
accommodation ; but although each unhappy prisoner 
is allowed a good supply of provisions, a small yard for 
exercise, and a cell lofty, light, and warmed in winter 
by a water-pipe, it is found that perfect solitude is inex- 
pressibly irksome. It is a method resorted to not 
merely for punishment, but amelioration. Man, being 
of a social nature, the sole companionship of a guilty 
conscience is the severest of inflictions ; and although 
a question might arise as to the extent to which it is 
legitimate to pursue a course which tends towards the 
extinction of an original element of our being, yet the 
testimony of experience proves that such discipline for 
a time, is conducive to moral improvement. If alone, 
they are not, however, without employment, being fur- 
nished, each according to his capacity, with the means 
of spinning, weaving, shoemaking, and other labours. 
'•The Pennsylvanian system," say the Inspectors in 
their sixth annual report, " is emphatically a mild and 
humane system. Let us look for a moment at the con- 
dition of the majority of those who become subject to 
its regulation. We find them living a hurried and 
thoughtless life of hourly excitement, and shuddering 
at the possibility of a pause which could let in (to them 
the demon) reflection. We see them wanting the ordi- 
nary comforts of clothing and cleanliness, without a 



PHILADELPHIA. 19 

home save that afforded by chance companionship. 
We rind them in the brothel and the gin-shop, given up 
to all manner of excesses, indulging in every extreme 
of vice, self-degraded and brutal. We see them cor- 
rupted and corrupting, initiating new candidates in the 
race of misery, and, dragging them in their own vortex 
to a death of infamy and horror. Where do we place 
them, and how do we treat them ? They are taken to 
the bath and cleansed of outward pollution, they are 
new clad in warm and comfortable garments, they are 
placed in an apartment infinitely superior to what they 
have been accustomed, they are given employment to 
enable them to live by their own industry, they are ad- 
dressed in the language of kindness, interest is shown 
in their present and future welfare, they are advised 
and urged to think of their former course and to avoid 
it, they are lifted gently from their state of humiliation ; 
self -degradation is removed, and self-esteem inducted. 
Pride of character and manliness is inculcated, and 
they go out of prison unknown as convicts, determined 
to wrestle for a living in the path of honesty and virtue. 
Is not this humane ? The object of all prison estab- 
lishments should be to reclaim. The separation of con- 
victs affords facilities (which would be impossible under 
other circumstances) to treat each individual case in a 
manner best adapted to that result. There are no doubt 
some criminals who are incorrigible ; but even with 
these, the vindictive feelings usually generated by prison 
discipline find no place, and they leave the establish- 
ment with sentiments of regard rather than resentment 
towards those who have attempted to alter their vicious 
habits." 

The Girard College for Orphans is now rising into a 



20 PHILADELPHIA. 

magnificent structure, under the care, and according to 
a plan devised by Mr. Thomas Walter, at whose 
father's house we found a hospitable home. It is situ- 
ated on a tract of land of forty-five acres, about a mile 
from the city : the building is peripteral, 160 feet in front 
by 217 feet on the flank. The columns are of the Cor- 
inthian order, to stand on a basement of twelve steps sur- 
rounding the whole edifice. All the columns, entabla- 
ture, pediment, floors, and stair- ways are to be of marble. 
It is not a poor school, a charity school, or a free school, 
in the common acceptation of those words, but, as it is 
termed, a college. The inmates are prohibited, by the 
will of the donor, from wearing any peculiar dress, that 
they might not be objects of remark or contempt, and 
that the only distinction at which they aim should be 
the livery of a good conduct. The instruction is to 
embrace reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, geo- 
graphy, navigation, surveying, practical mathematics, 
astronomy, natural philosophy, the French and Span- 
ish languages, and, if the trustees choose, Latin and 
Greek. Stephen Girard was a native of Bordeaux, in 
France, and having removed to the United States, took 
up his abode at Philadelphia, where he died in Decem- 
ber, 1831, at the age of 80, full of riches as well as 
years. Among numerous large legacies to public 
objects, he bequeathed the extraordinary sum of two 
millions of dollars for the erection and support of this 
orphan institution. 

Philadelphia contains too, the ashes of Franklin, the 
room in which the declaration of independence was 
read, and the spot where Penn signed his treaty with the 
Indians. 

A visit to the Navy Yard afforded an opportunity of 



PHILADELPHIA. 21 

seeing the "Pennsylvania," a man-of-war on the 
stocks, of 140 guns. Whether this immense apparatus 
of mischief is larger than the one building at Wool- 
wich, we could not at the time determine ; but we de- 
voutly united in wishing that both might be suffered to 
rot, while the respective countries should remain in un- 
disturbed harmony. 

The afternoon of this day was agreeably spent at 
the house of Dr. Brantly, where we met the Rev. Mr. 
Fuller, a baptist minister of celebrity from Carolina. 
At Mr. Walter's we enjoyed interviews with many 
other friends. Slavery and the Temperance Societies 
formed prominent topics of conversation ; and having 
ascertained the character of some apprehensions enter- 
tained respecting the immediate purport of our visit, 
we were enabled to present the subject in a view which 
we had every reason to conclude inspired confidence, 
while it involved no compromise of sentiment. 

We preached on the sabbath at several of the 
churches, and obtained much valuable information 
respecting them. Our reception was every where kind ; 
our intercourse with ministers and people gratifying, 
and such as bespoke a deep interest in the object of 
promoting fraternal union between the churches of 
Britain and America. The presbyterians are flourish- 
ing and numerous. Their annual assembly was trans- 
ferred this year to Pittsburg, amidst great apprehen- 
sions of a division of the body, in consequence of disa- 
greements on questions relating chiefly to high and low 
Calvinism. 

The baptist denomination is of early origin in Phila- 
delphia. In 1802, the first church, however, situated 
in Second-street, was then the only one, under the pas- 

3 



22 PHILADELPHIA. 

toral care of Thomas Ustic, who had been preceded 
by Morgan Edwards and William Rogers. At present 
there are eight baptist churches, besides two African, 
comprehending about three thousand members. Some 
of these are in a prosperous state, with large places of 
worship ; particularly those of Dr. Brantly, in whose 
church more than one revival has occurred, and Mr. 
Kennard. The church of which the latter is pastor 
was only constituted in September, 1817 ; nevertheless, 
it now consists of between five and six hundred mem- 
bers. Spruce-street, though at present without a pastor, 
is acquiring stability and magnitude. The congrega- 
tion in Sansom-street is beginning, after a season of 
depression, to return to its pristine importance ; and 
it is anticipated that the capacious edifice, which is esti- 
mated to contain nearly 3000 people, will again be 
filled. 

The name of Dr. Staughton is intimately associated 
with Sansom-street, and with the progress of the de- 
nomination, of which he was a splendid ornament. It 
is not, indeed, in Philadelphia only, the sphere of his 
noblest exertions, or in Washington, where he died, 
after having presided for a few years over the Colum- 
bian College, that his virtues are commemorated. By 
the influence of his character, the attraction of his tal- 
ents, the judiciousness and plenitude of his instructions 
to the young, especially to the rising ministry whom he 
educated, by the blandishments of his private inter- 
course, and the almost endless variety of his benevolent 
efforts and enterprises, he gave an impulse, which is 
every day developing itself to the baptist churches and 
congregations of America. We met with ministers 
formerly his pupils, and now situated in distant places, 



PHILADELPHIA. 23 

who uniformly expressed the most profound veneration 
for their former tutor. Some of them in the meridian 
or decline of life, are distinguished men, reflecting, as 
we could easily imagine, some of his hallowed lustre. 
Many others spoke of the discourses which they had 
occasionally heard, as if his tones were yet thrilling in 
their ears, and his impressive manner still fixing their 
attention. In the families he visited, in the pulpits he 
occupied, in the public institutions he founded or adorn- 
ed, " being dead, he yet speaketh." He was born in 
Coventry, January 4, 1770, removed to the United 
States in 1893, and after a popular and eminently use- 
ful career of nearly forty years, expired in the city of 
Washington, December 12. 1729. His memory, how- 
ever, will not soon fade away ; and while the present 
generation is conscious of the rich treasure of his re- 
collected virtues, and the surviving power of his hon- 
oured name, a far distant posterity, to whom his fame 
shall be transmitted, is likely to reap the benefit, when 
his contemporaries have all followed him to the dust, 
and even when the recording tablet shall have perished. 

We left Philadelphia with the impression, that the 
churches, both baptist and peedo-baptist, were considera- 
bly divided in sentiment, on what is termed high and 
low Calvinism. They appear to be passing through a 
process similar to that which agitated the English 
churches for some years after Mr. Fuller appeared 
on the field of controversy. These diversities have, 
perhaps, in some measure, exasperated their divisions ; 
but we trust that light and love are blending their holy 
rays. 

The Philadelphia Association is the oldest of the kind 
m America, having been organized July 27, 1707 ; and 



24 BALTIMORE. 

it is the parent of many others. The doctrines it main- 
tains assimilate to those of the confession of 1689. The 
Central Union Association was formed in Philadelphia 
in 1832, for the purpose of promoting the gospel by- 
domestic missions, the education of young men for the 
ministry, aiding feeble churches, supporting benevolent 
institutions, and awakening a revival spirit. The 
Bridgewater Association was formed in 1826, by a sepa- 
ration from the Susquehannah, on the alleged ground of 
the prevalence of Arminian sentiments ; and though 
the churches of which it is composed are small, religion 
thrives among them. . 

After passing down the Delaware in the steam 
packet, crossing by a rail-road to the Chesapeake, and 
traversing its noble waters to Baltimore, we were 
happy to find our trip of 120 miles terminate in the hos- 
pitable mansion of Mr. Levering. The evening closed 
agreeably among christian friends, at the house of 
T. Wilson, Esq. Our reception was every thing that 
could be desired ; and both on this occasion, and on our 
return, it was gratifying to find genuine piety uniting 
with worldly respectability to enrich with greater glory 
than her monuments or mansions could confer, this beau- 
tiful city. It is situated at the head of the tide water 
on the north side of the Patapsco river, fourteen miles 
above its entrance into the Chesapeake. In 1752, it 
contained but twenty-five houses ; now it may be re- 
garded as the the third city of the union, with a popula- 
tion rapidly approaching to 100,000. It is the first flour 
market in the world, having sixty mills in constant 
operation. It has, besides numerous cotton and other 
manufactories, a roman catholic cathedral of the Ionic 
order : the battle monument erected in memory of those 



BALTIMORE. 



25 



Who fell in the conflict of 1815 ; the Washington monu- 
ment, of white marble, with a colossal statue of their 
hero, the largest of modern times, standing on the sum- 
mit, 163 feet above the ground ; rail roads leading to the 
Ohio and the Susquehannah, together with suburbs of 
much beauty, presenting a succession of elevated points 
or knolls of land, on some of which appear magnificent 
private residences. 

There are, in addition to the episcopalian, presby- 
terian, and methodist, an African and three other baptist 
churches, of which the first was founded in 1785. 
This place of worship is spacious, capable of containing 
about two thousand people. After experiencing a con- 
siderable season of prosperity, it became much reduced, 
partly by the secession of members to form another 
church, which is now in an advancing state, and partly 
from the discussions incident to that secession, and the 
spread of what is termed " Campbellism." This sect 
has originated in the zeal of Mr. Campbell, formerly the 
successful antagonist of Robert Owen, the soi-disant 
reformer of the world from Lanark. The residence of 
Mr. C. is in Virginia, but his influence has extended to 
neighbouring States. His followers, with some of 
whose leaders we had opportunities of intercourse in 
various places, are baptists, who hold some of the princi- 
ples, and adopt some of the practices of Sandemanianism, 
and many of whom associate with these a doctrine 
which, if it be not identical, is intimately allied to that of 
baptismal regeneration. By the recent settlement of 
Mr. Hill, in Baltimore, as pastor of the first church, the 
people are confidently, and with reason, anticipating the 
resuscitation of a spirit of vital piety and holy exertion, 
JNbt more than twelve months before our visit, a season 

3* 



26 BALTIMORE. 

of revival had been enjoyed, and between thirty and 
forty were added, many of whom are among the most 
consistent and valuable members of the church. 

The origin and singular trials of the second church, 
situated at Fell's point, demand a brief record. In 
1794, three families, members of the general baptist 
church at Leicester, of the new connexion, emigrated to 
America, and, after landing in New York, went to 
Baltimore. They determined to continue together as a 
jeligious community, and accordingly invited one of 
their number, Mr. John Healey, to become their minis- 
ter. When he commenced his work, he threw in his 
own contributions for the general support of the cause, 
devoting one-half of his time to the duties of his sacred 
office, and the other half to labour for the support of his 
family. At first, the little flock was accommodated 
gratuitously by Dr. Bond, of the episcopal church, in a 
place which had been fitted up for his congregation. 
They were soon afterwards much scattered, in conse- 
quence of a prevalent ague and fever. Two were dis- 
missed to another society. In 1797, however, they 
erected a small building of brick ; but while engaged in 
this work, the half their number died of the yellow fe- 
ver — in fact, Mr. Healey was left, as to male members, 
alone. Still he persevered, labouring and preaching for 
ten years with some success. In 1807, the church 
joined the Baltimore Association. Two years after- 
wards a schism took place during the pastor's absence. 
A secret effort had been made to elect another in his 
room, and at length nine or ten persons were excluded ; 
in the same year, however, ten were added. In 1811, 
a new place of worship was reared, forty by fifty feet in 
dimensions, in Fleet-street, Fell's Point, and at one pe- 



WASHINGTON. 27 

riod the church included one hundred and fifty-seven 
members. But in 1821-22, they had great afflictions, 
and frequent mortality by yellow fever; their doors 
were even closed for ten weeks, and the Sunday-school 
was scattered. They have since revived, and at present 
are enjoying peace and making progress. 

The city of Washington of course claimed our next 
attention, being in the direct way to the place of our prin- 
cipal destination. As other travellers have often described 
it, and as congress was not sitting, we may be excused 
from many general observations. At the house of our 
friend Mr. Brown, pastor of the baptist church, we found 
his son-in-law Colonel Wheeler, secretary to the com- 
missioners of the French treaty, who paid us every 
attention. Under his guidance we visited several 
places : the capitol, so much celebrated, and, of its kind, 
so really beautiful a structure, was not overlooked. In 
fact, after surveying the hall or rotunda to mark its 
painted decorations of the Landing of the Pilgrims, 
Penn's Treaty with the Indians, the Signing of the 
Declaration of Independence, the Rescue of Captain 
Smith by Pocahontas, with other mementoes of glory, 
and glancing at the unoccupied seats and presidential 
chair of the house of representatives, we ventured to 
ascend to the summit, in order, like the poor pigmies of 
our race, to enlarge as much as possible our little hori- 
zon of view. This we did by mounting up an external 
staircase of great extent, which trembled and creaked in 
every limb, and even swayed, or seemed to sway about 
in the wind. The giddy height, however, did not alto- 
gether repay our ambitious effort. We were rather 
inspired with melancholy than admiration. The gene- 
ral aspect of the country, as it appears from this eleva- 



&8 WASHINGTON. 

lion, is desolate and dreary ; the forests, if forests there 
have ever been, have disappeared ; the river is too dis- 
tant to be imposing, in fact it looks only like a silver 
thread ; the city itself, which was to be, is so broken 
into fragments, so incomplete in its projected buildings, 
streets, and roads, and so destitute of life and movement 
at this uncongressional season, that one could not help 
sighing over the outline of a magnificent failure. 

In the evening, Colonel "Wheeler introduced us to 
the president, General Jackson. We found him in 
company, with Mr. Yan Buren, the vice-president, who 
is a candidate for the supreme office, at the period of 
regular vacancy. It was a gratifying opportunity of 
familiar conversation over a cup of coffee, on topics con- 
nected with some of the most important interests of our 
respective countries. Recent intelligence from Europe 
was touched upon, and particularly news relative to 
Ireland, which led to a somewhat extended discussion 
of the compulsory support of religion as contrasted with 
that which is spontaneous and voluntary. It was gra- 
tifying to ascertain that the mind of the chief magistrate 
of this mighty nation was as free from all the sophistries 
arising out of the unhallowed blendings of things sacred 
with things secular, by the alliance of the church with 
the state, as his person and court were disincumbered 
of the pomps of royal etiquette. He uttered with great 
emphasis, these memorable words, <: Human legisla- 
tion in matter of religion may make hypocrites, but it 
cannot make christians." On the tithe system, particu- 
larly as it was working in Ireland, which led to the 
conversation, the president spoke with still kindling 
energy, and in terms which harmonized with what 
may now be considered public opinion in every part of 



WASHINGTON. 29 

the British empire, till all the soldier was apparent as 
the general exclaimed, "I had rather die a thousand 
deaths than see my wife and children starve while I was 
robbed of one-tenth of my labour to support a religion I 
disapproved." 

The president is a man venerable for age, and distin- 
guished for military talents. He courteously invited us 
to dine with him on our return from Virginia ; a plea- 
sure we were compelled to relinquish. He has acquired 
much celebrity for self-command and fortitude ; but we 
fancied the then very recent attempt on his life, by 
Lawrence, since proved to be insane, had a little shaken 
his system. We stood upon the spot at the entrance of 
the capitol, and were not unmindful of that remarkable 
Providence which prevented the discharge of two per- 
cussion pistols, though the caps exploded ; by which 
the president escaped from a danger the most im- 
minent. 

We were unfortunate, on the first day of our arrival, 
in being too late to witness a quarterly exhibition of the 
proficiency of the students at the Columbian College, 
an institution under the patronage of the baptist deno- 
mination, and at its first establishment, distinguished by 
the brief residence and available talents of Staughton ; 
but we seized an opportunity of visiting Dr. Chapim 
the president, and looking through the institution. The 
location is good, and commands a fine view of the capitol 
at the distance of two miles and a half. This college 
was incorporated by an act of congress in 1821 ; the 
course of instruction began in 1822; the buildings are 
unfinished, and we cannot compliment our friends on 
the style of those which have been completed. In 
America, generally, while every kind of architecture, 



30 WASHINGTON. 

excepting naval, is inferior to that of Europe, the college 
structures are reared, without even the ambition of ex- 
cellence. We often felt inclined to remark, that it 
seemed as if the mills and factories were taken as models 
for the colleges, to be again, in turn, taken as models for 
mills. It is, however, but fair to admit, that our own 
college at Bristol sometimes occurred to recollection. 
The institution at Washington has suffered severe tri- 
als, from which it seems to be beginning to emerge. 
The provisions for instruction appear to be ample in all 
the branches. There is one advantage which from the 
circumstances, is peculiar to this establishment, namely, 
that on occasions of great interest, the students are per- 
mitted to attend the Supreme court of the United States, 
and the debates in Congress. Of 300 pupils who have 
received education there, forty have devoted themselves 
to the ministry. 

We gave one day to Mount Vernon, which the 
name of Washington has rendered illustrious. Our 
ministerial brother Cornelius, pastor of the baptist church 
in Alexandria, an incorporated city about six miles on 
our way, came to accompany us to his residence. At 
Alexandria, where Mr. C, has been labouring ten years, 
there is a church of 200 members, and a school of 100 
children. Most of the members were baptized by the 
present pastor, and the church enjoyed much peace and 
prosperity, till a recent attempt to introduce hypercalvin- 
ism threatened division, and it was supposed about fifty 
would separate ; but it is worthy of remark, that not 
a single coloured person, whether slave or free, se- 
ceded ! 

After crossing Hunter's Creek, and pursuing a toil- 
some ascent thickly covered with embowering woods, 



WASHINGTON 31 

we beheld the dwelling of Washington, and by the 
favour of his descendants, surveyed its interior. The 
rooms are small, but neatly furnished ; the relics not 
numerous ; if, though half interdicted, we snatched a 
glance through the telescope of the departed patriot, we 
shall be more than forgiven. The summer-house in 
which he delighted to sit and contemplate a beautiful 
sweep of the Potomac, with its bordering of wooded 
hills and vales, is in such a state of decay that it is 
almost hazardous to ascend the steps. On the right at 
some distance is his tomb, a mean brick vault with a , 
few miserable letters for an inscription. Is this neglect % 
or is it intended to impress the by-stander with the 
thought that monumental splendour would only enfee- 
ble the superior lustre that encircles such a name? Cer- 
tainly the marble and the epitaph are insignificant 
appendages to real greatness ; but strangers from the 
old world, cannot be expected to sympathize with this 
entombing of illustrious remains in some obscure nook 
of a private estate, when the lands are liable to be 
transferred quickly into the hands of strangers. In the 
same manner, Monticello the seat of Jefferson, contains 
no mausoleum for the permanent abode of the dead. 
We know not the motives which led to the disturbance 
of the dust of Washington ; but it is unseemly to leave 
the old vault in its present state, in keeping only with 
surrounding dilapidations. It is indeed, fenced, but 
when curiosity prompts to the trespass, and you reach 
the entrance, it is impossible to dissociate from the scene, 
an idea of the hasty violence of some plunderer of 
graves. One conspicuous object is a long box, not 
unlike a shell for a corpse ; it lies as if carelessly thrown 
aside with other lumber, and the whole appearance 



32 WASHINGTON. 

quite neutralizes the solemn and appropriate impressions 
which such a spot ought to produce. 

On our return to Washington we passed a most 
agreeable evening at the house of Mr. Elliot, in a very 
select society. Among the gentlemen were some of 
the clergymen and other intelligent inhabitants of the 
town, together with Col. Wheeler and Judge Cranch, 
chief justice of the supreme court of Columbia, and 
one of the seven associate judges of the United 
States. The general manners and freedom of inter- 
course we enjoyed, reminded us of the best English 
society. 

The next day we took the steam packet to Aquia 
Creek, whence we proceeded along the Virginian sands 
and hollows with a happy escape from dislocation to 
Fredericksburgh. In passing up the Potomac, whose 
banks are fertile and more lofty than those of the Dela- 
ware or Chesapeake, we crossed several fisherman's 
seines of great extent. One of them was not less 
than a mile and a half in length, and at one draught 
in the preceding summer had captured, besides three 
or four hundred shad, the almost incredible number of 
seven hundred thousand six hundred herrings. 

Fredericksburgh is a town of extensive trade, but of 
no great pretensions in appearance. It stands on the 
south side of the Rappahannock river, more than a 
hundred miles from its outlet into the Chesapeake Bay. 
It has a numerous baptist cause in an increasing state, 
and three other churches. From this place we diverged 
at a right angle from our direct course, for the purpose 
of waiting on Mr. Madison, to whom Judge Cranch had 
given us an introduction, and performing a circuit over 
the Blue Mountains. At the first stage, however, unex- 



WASHING'fOtt. 33 

peeled obstacles occurred, which induced the apprehen- 
sion of not being able to arrive in Richmond so early as 
we desired. The deputation, therefore, agreed to a 
separation of some days, that one at least might be in 
sufficient time to attend the general association of Vir- 
ginia. This circumstance renders it necessary to adopt, 
for a few pages, the form of personal narrative. 

Dr. Cox's account. — Being left alone, without the 
means of returning to Fredericksburgh till the following 
day, I determined to employ the interval in endeavour- 
ing to ascertain the moral and religious condition of this 
part of the country. It occurred to me that the best 
method would be> after some inquiries^ to take a soli- 
tary ramble in the pine forests, where the scattered 
habitations were to be found. In a short time my atten- 
tion was arrested by the appearance of what at first 
seemed to be a log-house, but which, on a nearer in^ 
spection, proved to be a school-room. I thought in so 
wild a country I might be forgiven for entering the open 
door without ceremony, The master received me cour- 
teously, and answered my questions without hesitation \ 
while, as I seated myself on a bench, the encircling groUp 
of girls and boys, amounting to about twenty-five or thir- 
ty, looked with an expression of countenance that hovered 
between wonder and merriment. I found that they were 
gathered together from different distances in the interior > 
and that the master, a young man of some address, came 
every Monday twelve miles, and took up his abode at 
the court-house till Saturday, for the purpose of impart- 
ing his very cheap instructions in writing, reading, 
arithmetic, geography, and history. I requested some 
specimens of their progress. They were not contempti- 
ble, and probably greater in reality than appearance j for 

4 



34 JOURNEY TO 

more reluctance to speaking was betrayed than is always 
incident to the young republicanism of the new world. If, 
thought I, by this moral irrigation of the soil, America 
is thus striving to diffuse the benefits of education 
among her multifarious people, the result cannot be 
doubtful — her greatness is established! There was, 
however, one deduction from the pleasing hope of the 
immediate future ; I was in a slave state in Virginia ; 
and the slave-holding states will not allow their black 
population to be taught to read or write, though they 
may be orally instructed. Still it is consoling to think 
that the moral culture, and, in many cases, the religious 
tuition bestowed, not only on the whites, but on the 
blacks, is urging on improvement with intense and 
irresistible force. The consequent elevation of charac- 
ter, superinduced by the diffusion of knowledge, or the 
growth of private sentiment, in concurrence with the 
course of providence, is accelerating the happy crisis of 
entire and universal freedom. 

Pursuing my way through the forest, I happened 
upon another house of a very different character, and strik- 
ingly illustrative of the good and the evil that are inter- 
mingled here in the elements of society. It was the dwell- 
ing of what in England would be termed a little farmer. 
To me it seemed that vicious habits and a vicious system 
had totally prostrated his mind ; and the two or three 
black children by whom he was attended, exhibited as re- 
markable a contrast as could well be imagined to those 
from whom I had just parted in the school-room. Va- 
cancy of countenance and obsequiousness of manner, 
together with his own too ready acknowledgments be- 
spoke a degradation of the species, not to be witnessed 
without poignant anguish. 



RICHMOND. 35 

My next visit was to a family in the same general 
circumstances ; but entirely dissimilar in the whole mode 
of their existence. I found a farmer and his wife at 
their early evening repast. At first some symptoms of 
constraint gleamed through the courteousness of their 
reception. The ice, however, soon melts from a "Vir- 
ginian heart, and when the stranger was found to be a 
minister of the gospel, sentiments and affections flowed 
freely. In truth I enjoyed a season of unreserved chris- 
tian and spiritual communion ; and obtained the 
information that the only two churches in the vicinity, 
of one cf which they were members, were of the bap- 
tist persuasion. Abortive attempts had been made to 
sow doctrinal dissension, but the cause was not unpros- 
perous. Another call at the distance of a mile, brought 
me into a higher grade of worldly respectability, where 
I found a New Testament religion united with a Vir- 
ginian hospitality. My stay was, perhaps, imprudently 
prolonged, and as night soon enveloped my footsteps, it 
was no tempting journey through the recesses of an un- 
known wilderness. But there was sublimity in the 
emotions excited in the mind by a loneliness and a 
silence, interrupted only by the whispers of soft winds 
among the forest trees. Now would the active thoughts 
seize the wings of the lightning and speed their way 
across the ocean solitudes towards home ; and anon, by 
the light of the glittering stars, spring upward to a 
brighter and a better world ! 

Having reached Richmond on Friday evening, after a 
journey of some little peril, and no small amusement, I 
was ushered into the friendly abode of Mr. Wortham, 
amidst the kindest welcomings of its inhabitants, and 
of many ministers already assembled for the ensuing 



3"6 RICHMOND. 

christian festivities. On Saturday, April 25th, the 
General Association of Virginia held its twelfth 
annual session. The introductory discourse by the 
Rev. Cumberland George, from the words, "Have 
faith in God," was heard with much attention ; and 
afforded, as I understood, a fair specimen of the southern 
style of preaching. He refuted many objections that 
had been urged against missionary enterprises, and 
showed the necessity of dependence on the power and 
promises of God. It was sound in matter,, ardent and 
affectionate in manner, and pointed to every on^s con- 
science and heart. This association corresponds in 
character and constitution with the State Conventions, 
whose design is to unite the several churches in the 
common objects of christian benevolence. In Virginia), 
as in each of the New England States, and several of 
the Middle, Southern, and Western States, there are 
education, missionary, and other societies, which meet 
in conjunction with the Association or State convention, 
which is, in fact, composed of the anniversaries of these 
several societies. There are in Virginia, twenty-four 
baptist associations, comprising 441 churches, and 
55,602 communicants, besides three associations which 
are partly situated in North Carolina, Tennessee, and 
Pennsylvania. Of this number, thirteen associations, 
and 280 churches harmonize with the General Associa- 
tion; to these have been added 3,696 members during 
the past year, and 340 to the other churches. They 
have, moreover, employed ten missionaries, in addition 
to a general agent. Three new churches have been 
formed by their means, and 280 members brought into 
the communion of saints. In the evening of this day^ 



RICHMOND. 37 

a sermon was preached by Mr. Edward Baptist, before 
the Virginia Education Society. It was addressed 
chiefly to candidates for the ministry. 

The sabbath morning opened with all the brightness 
of a southern sky. It came, too, rich in spiritual privi- 
leges, and abundant in ministerial and christian inter- 
course. The bustle attendant upon arrivals in this 
" city of our solemnities," had subsided into a profound 
tranquillity, which seemed equally to reign in nature 
and in the sanctuaries of piety. I was requested to 
preach at the first church. When I beheld the vast 
assembly, composed of three classes of hearers, the white 
population occupying one side, the black the other, and 
ministers of the gospel from distant parts, crowding the 
centre, I could not be insensible to my responsibility, or 
easily suppress overwhelming emotions, while I at- 
tempted to preach from the words recorded in Psalm 
lxxii. 19, " Let the whole earth be filled with his glory." 
In the afternoon, Mr. Choules, of New Bedford, deli- 
vered a very suitable discourse. At the close of it, the 
singing of the coloured people was delightful. They 
joined hand in hand, swaying backwards and forwards, 
and uttering tones of a peculiar kind, which were often 
truly melodious. It was like the voice and the heart of 
one man. Their radiant, though swarthy counte- 
nances, with eyes ever-brightening as they sang, ex- 
pressed a pleasure, which, to every christian spectator^ 
appeared to result from that conscious emancipation 
and freedom of soul, of which religion renders it suscep- 
tible, even amidst the fetters and degradation of an 
outward bondage. Their hymn commenced with the 
following verse, which fell plaintively upon the ear, 

4* 



38 RICHMONDv 

" There is a land of pleasure r 
Where peace and joy for ever roll ; 

'Tis there I have my treasure, 
And there I long to rest my soul. 

Long darkness dwelt around me, 
With scarcely once a cheering ray ; 

But since the Saviour found me, 
A lamp has shone along my way." 

When I thought upon their melancholy condition,, 
and saw the power of truth and sacred song kindling' 
such a joy in hearts so sad, and when I observed mul- 
titudes crowding around in an evident sympathy with 
their enslaved condition, in a State, advancing, how- 
ever, rapidly in spiritual attainment and righteous 
purpose, I could not help stepping upon a bench, and 
claiming their attention to a short address. They 
listened, and many of them, accustomed to its glad 
tidings, loved the gospel. They seemed fully to appre- 
hend that in its saving and sanctifying influence it gave 
inward freedom, and inspired heavenly hopes ; and at 
the close they exclaimed, " Brother — stranger, shake 
hands with us ! " It need not be said, that this was at 
once complied with ; and if it were impracticable to 
extend the friendly token to every individual of many 
hundreds, there was at least a fellowship of humanity, 
of benevolent sympathy, and of christian love. 

The annual meeting of the Virginia Baptist Edu- 
cation Society was held on Monday morning, when 
several very sensible and animated speeches were deli- 
vered. The report was highly encouraging, the sub- 
scriptions liberal. There are at present under the 
society's patronage, sixty students in the seminary, 
which is prettily enclosed in well-cultivated garden 



RICHMOND. 39 

grounds, about a mile from the city. The institution 
began about four years ago with fourteen students. 
The general plan of studies is intended for those who 
are preparing for the christian ministry, without having 
had the advantage of a previous education. It embraces 
a period of four years ; of which the first is English, 
with a commencement in Latin ; the second compre- 
hends a commencement both in Greek and mathematics; 
the third unites with these logic, rhetoric, natural and 
mental philosophy; and the fourth combines those 
studies which are more definitely theological and fitting 
for the pastoral office. Besides the beneficiaries, young 
men of good moral character may be admitted who will 
defray their own expenses. No beneficiary is introduced 
till he has sustained a trial of one session ; and each 
one is pledged to pursue the whole course. This semi- 
nary combines with its literary plans the system of 
manual labour, by which three hours' work per day is 
required of each student, for the two-fold purpose of 
recreation and gain ; the nett proceeds of the labour^ 
whether agricultural, or mechanical, as their early 
habits direct, being appropriated to the students by a 
fair calculction. 

After dining at Judge Clopton's, it had been arrang- 
ed to repair to the premises, where the students and 
company were to receive an address. Torrents of rain, 
however, disarranged the plan, and occasioned the meet- 
ing to be deferred to the following day. Accordingly, 
after the business of the Virginia General Association 
had occupied the hours of the morning, at four o'clock 
on Tuesday the members of the society, the delegates 
of the General Association, and a large concourse of 
ladies and gentlemen rode to the premises. One of the 



40 JOURNEY TO 

students, Mr. J. L. Shuck, delivered an oration, and I 
afterwards endeavoured to fulfil the duty that had been 
devolved upon me by the authorities, of addressing the 
students and the assembly. At the close of it, Mr. 
Shuck stepped up to me with a bouquet of beautiful 
flowers from the gardens, saying, that this was a fra- 
grant though frail token of their present gratification in 
greeting me from the land of their fathers ; and that 
whatever might be thought of the value of the flowers, he 
could safely assure me that " Solomon, in all his glory, 
was not arrayed like one of these." Mr. Malcom con- 
cluded in prayer ; and after perambulating the grounds, 
we returned. My colleague had now arrived. 

Dr. Hobtfs Account. — Pursuing the route to Char- 
lottesville and Staunton, I intended to visit the natural 
bridge of Virginia, and to travel to Richmond by way 
of Lynchburgh. I regretted that the stage arrange- 
ments prevented my availing myself of Judge Cranch's 
letter of introduction to the ex-president Mr. Madison : 
we stopped for the night some miles short of his resi- 
dence, and proceeded the next morning at half-past two 
o'clock. Monticello, the seat of Jefferson, is passed as 
you enter Charlottesville, and the university, of which 
he was the father and founder, is erected at the opposite 
end of this quiet and genteel town. The site of these 
college-buildings is admirably selected on rising ground, 
bounded by two roads, that leading to Staunton passes 
by the Rotunda. This is the chief edifice, and contains 
in the basement, class-rooms, for lectures and recitations, 
over which the noble hall, with its gallery supported by 
forty pillars, forms the library. Ten dwelling houses, 
five on either side of the quadrangle are connected by 
arcades with the Rotunda, and between these professors 7 



RICHMOND. 



41 



residences are the chambers for the students : thus pre- 
senting all the details calculated to render the establish- 
ment complete. The university of Virginia did not 
flourish with the most auspicious patronage of the state 
and of Mr. Jefferson. How much soever we may de- 
plore the infidelity of that great man and distinguished 
patriot, one can scarcely regret the opportunity for the 
fair trial of his principles, as connected with education, 
inasmuch as the experiment turns out so signally to the 
honour of revelation. So long as infidelity was the 
presiding genius of the place, it languished and decay- 
ed. Now that there is no longer any systematic hosti- 
lity against " the truth," this temple of science promises 
to rival the most prosperous of the literary institutions 
of the land. The faculty consists of ten professors, and 
209 students call this thriving university their alma 
mater. A sort of uniform is worn by the gentlemen 
who study here, which consists in the coats being of the 
same colour, cut, and quality. 

Monticello, at a somewhat greater distance from the 
town in a nearly opposite direction, was the seat of Jef- 
ferson ; there he had his abode, and thence he beheld 
the college buildings grow at his bidding. His ashes 
repose in a spot enclosed in a rough manner from the 
grounds, and used as the burial place for the family, 
several of whom are interred there. The mansion is 
erected on the table summit of a lofty hill, and as to ex- 
ternal architecture and general appearance is in keep- 
ing with the beautiful and diversified scenery it com- 
mands ; but how much was there here on which to 
moralize ! This deserted residence was about to become 
the dwelling of a descendant of Abraham ; and at no 
great distance the slave, who was the mother of Jeffer* 



42 JOURNEY TO 

son's children, and who was left in bondage, or if liberated, 
was unprovided for, had her humble abode? The gran- 
ite column may stand for ages over his grave ; but on 
the brass tablet to be inserted, it might be engraven that 
he was literally the father of some of his own slaves ! 
The possibility of reaching Richmond by way of 
Lynchburgh, and the probability of failing in with some 
coffles of melancholy captives, who though innocent, 
perhaps virtuous and even eminently pious, are often 
driven in this direction, as I was informed, from their 
country and their homes, induced an excursion yet 
further west. It was a delightful ride across the blue 
ridge, from the summit of which the distant Alleghany 
chain of mountains was distinctly seen. 

The forest was every where illuminated by the 
bright blossoms of dogwood. The only slaves met with, 
were five fellow-passengers, three females and two men, 
who appeared to be accompanying their master. I was 
surprised at the readiness with which the owner of these 
slaves conversed in their presence on the rights and 
claims of the Indians, although much of the discussion 
was as applicable to the black as to the red races in 
America. Neither did he appear offended at the 
familiarity with which I addressed one of the men, who 
seemed anxious not to incommode me, in language by 
which I intentionally conveyed my sense of his equality 
as a fellow-passenger in a public conveyance. To 
reach Richmond by the opening of the convention, 1 
was under the necessity of relinquishing the intended 
tour, and returning to Charlottesville to spend the sab- 
bath with the baptist church. Mr. Lindsey Coleman, 
the pastor, has also the care of three other churches 
situated at considerable distances, and was not expected 



RICHMOND. 43 

on the Lord's day. This circumstance afforded an oppor- 
tunity of ascertaining what is customary with congre- 
gations during such absence of their ministers, which 
too much resembles the state of those parish churches 
in England, where similar causes prevent the stated 
worship every Lord's day. Yet religion is not so wholly 
neglected in America, as in some of those rural districts, 
because it is the habit of part of the congregation to 
attend worship elsewhere, and probably where their own 
pastor is officiating, while the more active and zealous 
persevere in their employments as sabbath-school teach- 
ers; and at Charlottesville particularly, a part of the day 
was occupied in the instruction of the blacks and 
slaves. These much-neglected people are now instruct- 
ed in the room under the baptist place of worship ; and 
as the laws prohibit teaching them to read, the Scrip- 
tures are read to them, and explained. These appeared 
greatly delighted by the interest taken in them by their 
English visitor, and some of them were affected to 
tears. Much indeed do they need the tender sympa- 
thy of christians. Multitudes of them are in gross 
ignorance. The following is the subject of the first 
conversation I had with a slave. She was a girl of 
about ten or twelve years old, and the property of a 
christian owner. 

"What is your name?" "A. B." "How old are 
you?" "I don't know." "Who is your mother?" 
" The woman below." " Who is your father ? " "I 
don't know any more that that shovel." " Who do you 
belong to?" " My Sammy or Tommy," or whatever 
was the name of her master. "Who is your Sammy ? " 
"Who do you mean?" "Why, don't you know?" 
" So and so. He is my Sammy." " Do you know who 



44 JOURNEY TO 

made you ? " " The old one." " Who do you mean 
by the old one?" "Whydebilto be sure." "Have 
you a soul ? " <l No, I don't know what you meam" 
" Do you know any thing about God ?" " No, mother 
says she will take me to the room there, that I may 
hear something." "Where shall you go when you 
die ? " " To the old one." Some attempt was made 
to instruct this child, whose curiosity was irrepressible, 
and who was not deficient in capacity. 

As on the excursion west of Charlottesville, the rights 
of men formed the chief topic of conversation, notwith- 
standing the presence of five slaves, so on the road to 
Richmond, during the greater part of two days occupied 
in the journey of sixty miles, slavery and the African 
race were constantly the subjects of discussion. Judge 

— , a gentleman of great intelligence, and of 

remarkable conversational powers, was a passenger, 
and took no small share in the controversy. The 
ground assumed was, that slavery was almost univer- 
sally felt to be a grievous curse> — that there existed an 
earnest desire to be delivered from it. — but that the 
whole system was so compassed about with difficulties, 
emancipation was altogether hopeless. The position 
occupied on the other side was, that the immediate, 
universal, and total abolition of slavery, was the most 
righteous, safe, and benevolent course ; and that re- 
ligion, justice, and philanthropy, demand this for the 
oppressed, whatever questions of compensation may 
arise between other parties, and whatever legislative 
enactments may be provided for the public security, both 
of the pale and coloured races of citizens. The discus^ 
sions of this subject on the journey, produced a convic- 
tion on my mind, which I had innumerable opportune 



RICHMOND. • 45 

ties of verifying, viz. that the most conflicting and con- 
tradictory statements can with the greatest ease be ob- 
tained from advocates of slavery, respecting those who 
are so much wronged. You have only to express an 
opinion relative to the capacity of two millions and a 
half of human beings, and assert your persuasion, that 
as free labourers, they are in all respects capable of tak- 
ing care of themselves and their families ; and you are 
instantly assured they are inferior to mere children, and 
raised but little above the brutes. Then watch your 
opportunity, and express your pity for human beings so 
degraded and helpless, and you will be told to spare 
your sympathy ; for the whole race is remarkably 
shrewd, and all of them contrive to take good care 
of themselves, while many get forward in no ordinary 
degree. 

In proceeding from Charlottesville through Gooch- 
land, where we stopped for the night, the beauty of the 
scenery often presented a singular contrast to the obvi- 
ously exhausted state of the lands — many districts 
having been worn out and partially abandoned. This 
was said to have been in a great degree the result of cul- 
tivation by slave labour, a system which thus degrades 
civilized man to a semi-barbarous recklessness, and 
gives an impetus to the tide of western emigration. By 
the use of plaster of Paris (gypsum) as a manure, the 
most extraordinary results have been obtained ; it seems 
to possess wonderful properties, by which these lands in 
Virginia are a second time reclaimed from desolation 
and barrenness. Free labour and an improved mode 
of agriculture, would render many portions of this now 
blighted land, a paradise both for beauty and fertility . 
The sandy road appearing to stretch its weary length 

5 



46 RICHMONO. 

along, through interminable vistas of pine, was at times' 
insupportably monotonous ; the tedium, however, was ; 
compensated on approaching Richmond by her noble 
river, of which we had caught several views. I was 
happy to reach the hospitable abode of Mr. Wortham r 
where I was courteously received, and soon beheld the' 
cavalcade returning with my colleague from the bowers 
of the seminary for the sons of the prophets. 



47 



CHAPTER III. 

THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

The mission in which we were engaged comprised 
two general objects, namely, to acquire information re- 
specting the proceedings of American christians, particu- 
larly those of our own denomination, and to endeavour 
to unite in closer bonds of affection and fellowship our 
brethren in a distant land, first, by a representative inter- 
course at the Triennial Convention, and then by a visit 
to their churches. While we participated in the views 
of our brethren at home respecting the advantages of 
personal communication, as the important meetings of 
this hallowed season were thickening around us, we 
were every moment awakened to a sense of our great 
responsibility. We perceived the agitation which was 
beginning to spread over the surface of American society 
in consequence of the rise of anti-slavery discussions ; 
and while it was sufficient to inspire us with caution, it 
was necessary so to act as to unite a dignified consis- 
tency of principle, with a perfect exercise of christian 
feeling. Existing circumstances, however, did not pre- 
vent the most unrestrained indulgence of those sacred 
emotions which such meetings were calculated to in- 
spire, which are rarely the portion of mortals below, and 
which afford a rich prelibation of the joys above. 

In the evening of the day on which the deputation 
re-united^ and immediately previous to the meeting of 



48 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

the Triennial Convention, the anniversary of the State 
Foreign Missionary Society was celebrated. The as- 
sembly was numerous, and it seemed to be pervaded by 
a profound and solemn feeling. So subduing, indeed, 
were the views entertained of the momentous trust con- 
fided to his people by the Great Head of the church, as 
contrasted with the comparative indifference of profes- 
sors, that when it was proposed to " take it]?" the collec- 
tion, the Rev. J. B. Jeter rose up in. the midst of the 
congregation, and after a brief appeal, to which his tall, 
thin figure, grave manner, and slow, deep utterance, 
gave peculiar effect, entreated that before they presented 
their contributions, they would humble themselves be- 
fore God in penitential confession of past remissness, and 
ask forgiveness of their sin, with grace to enable them 
in future to live more to his glory. There was instant 
and universal sympathy with the suggestion, which 
seemed to envelope and sadden every countenance like 
the sudden cloud that darkens a brilliant day. The 
Rev. J. Kerr, who occupied the chair, immediately re- 
quested brother Jeter to lead their devotions, which was 
done with a simplicity and fervour that harmonized with 
the pious proposal. The whole scene was deeply affect- 
ing, and we were probably participating the universal 
sentiment, in considering it eminently calculated to pre- 
pare every mind for the anticipated meeting. 

The Convention, which was the eighth trien- 
nial assembly of the denomination, commenced its 
sittings at ten o'clock on Wednesday morning, April 
29th, in the first baptist church. Although this impor- 
tant body now embraces in its deliberations the general 
interests of the baptist denomination in the United States, 
it was originally constituted for missionary purposes. In 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 49 

May, 1814, a meeting was held in Philadelphia, com- 
posed of delegates from missionary societies in Massa- 
chusetts, Rhode Island, New- York, New Jersey, Penn- 
sylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Columbia, Virginia, 
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Their 
plan was to unite their efforts to send the gospel to the 
heathen ; and they accordingly formed " The General 
Missionary Convention of America for Foreign Mis- 
sions." A committee was chosen to conduct the affairs 
of the general body, denominated " The Baptist Board 
of Foreign Missions, for the United States." As the 
executive of this missionary society, the duties of the 
board were defined, and it was decided that a general 
convention should be held triennially. Although other 
great denominational institutions have gathered around 
this missionary society for convenience, and have been 
animated by the sacred vitality with which the primary 
institution was instinct, it is nevertheless still regarded 
as the triennial missionary meeting. The session at 
Richmond was more numerously attended than former 
conventions, and it was thought to be a more complete 
representation of the denomination. There were dele- 
gates from nineteen states besides the district of Colum- 
bia ; but Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Mis- 
sissippi and Alabama, were not represented by persons 
who, according to the constitution, were entitled to seats, 
and to a vote. 

Among the pastors and ministers assembled, there 
were some whose age was indicated by the " hoary head 
found in the way of righteousness ; " but we observed, 
in general, that while many were in middle life, as a 
body they were remarkably youthful, and seemed fresh 
with the dew of an intellectual morning. 
5* 



50 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

The preliminary arrangements were promptly made 7 
evincing great tact in the management of their affairs! 
We were struck with the business-like character of the 
whole assembly ; while the sacredness of piety and the 
cheerfulness of benevolence redeemed the whole from 
an air of secularity. A merely mercantile man would 
have felt instinctively that he was breathing an uncon- 
genial element ; and yet commercial and even political 
assemblies might have learned some lessons on the regu- 
larity and the despatch of affairs. This was the more 
observable, because, with very few exceptions, the pas- 
tors and ministers were the chief actors. It was not the 
practice, either on this or other occasions, to proceed as 
if the concerns of the kingdom of Christ were incapable 
of being conducted by the ministers of the gospel, be- 
cause they are not educated as mercantile or commer- 
cial men. Our American friends seem rather to conceive 
that, in general, they are the suitable individuals ; and 
that lay assistance is most advantageous, when associ- 
ated in religious enterprises and in religious meetings, 
under ministerial superintendence. It may admit of a 
question whether, in concerns strictly and properly eccle- 
siastical, the same reasons which constitute the pastor 
the president in the church, should not operate to place 
some one of the body in the chair at the grave and solemn 
anniversaries of religion. If in the one case there may 
be a tendency in such an arrangement to produce a 
spirit of ecclesiastical domination, is there not at least 
an equal tendency in the other to foster a spirit of secu- 
lar power in the church? And is it not worth con- 
sidering whether the primitive constitution did not 
assign spiritual affairs to episcopal, that is, pastoral guid 
ance? 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 51 

As soon as the assembly became seated on this occa- 
sion, a hymn was sung, which was followed by prayer. 
The credentials of delegates were then examined, the 
names enrolled, and the officers for the present conven- 
tion chosen. The Rev. S. H. Cone was elected presi- 
dent, Rev. H. Malcom, secretary, Rev. G. F. Davis, as- 
sistant secretary. The first business of the meeting was 
to receive our credentials. After a few preliminary re- 
marks by the president, we presented various communi- 
cations with which we had been entrusted, particularly 
the document from the Union. The reading of this 
fraternal epistle was preceded by a few prefatory re- 
marks, apprising the assembly of the nature of the Bap- 
tist Union of England and Wales, and distinguishing 
it from the London Board of Ministers. This explana- 
tion evidently afforded great satisfaction to all present. 
Each of us then delivered an address of some length, 
in further explanation of the views and feelings of their 
British brethren towards the transatlantic churches. 
These addresses were listened to with the deepest inter- 
est. Many a manly countenance was bedewed with a 
tear of sacred sensibility. It was forthwith resolved, 
tl That the president welcome the delegation, and give 
them the right hand of fellowship on the part of the 
convention ; " and well did he sustain the dignity of his 
office, while with equal affection and eloquence he re- 
ceived us as brethren beloved for our work's sake, and 
emphatically as Englishmen, as Christians, and as 
Ministers. "We welcome you," said he, "to our 
country, our churches, our houses, and our hearts." 
When the tumult of emotion had subsided, during the 
few moments of solemn stillness which succeeded the 



52 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

president's address, he rose and gave out a stanza of the 
hymn which commences, 

" Blest be the tie that binds 
Our hearts in christian love." 

The communications which had been made were 
then referred to a committee, to report upon them dur- 
ing the present session. The visit of the delegates from 
the churches Of the father-land naturally increased the 
general interest of the convention ; and the reception 
which they experienced was such as not only to banish 
those feelings of restraint which, as strangers, they 
might have cherished, but to make them delightfully 
sensible that they were in the bosom of christian breth- 
ren. Ordinary forms of speech are too cold and com- 
mon-place to express the impression, never to be erased 
from their hearts, of the kind greetings and affectionate 
intercourse of every day. They were brought into fel- 
lowship and unreserved intercourse with multitudes of 
christian ministers and friends, whom they had never 
seen before ; many of whom were unknown to them 
even by name, and all of them fellow-workers of God, 
and fellow-heirs of eternal life. It seemed like the point 
of confluence of a thousand streams of sacred feeling 
and pious operation ; and proved to themselves, and 
they believe to all present during these " days of heaven 
upon earth," the assured prelibation of those " pleasures 
which are at God's right hand for evermore." There 
was soon enkindled in every bosom, and beaming from 
every eye, a glow of fervent sympathy and love, indi- 
cating, what every tongue would have been ready to 
declare, " it is good to be here." If doubts had arisen 
in any minds, as to the course the deputation from Eng- 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 53 

land intended to pursue in their public intercourse with 
their brethren, with respect to subjects of vital importance 
indeed, but inadmissible in a body constituted of such 
various elements as theirs, it was only like a cloud of 
the summer morning, which speedily dispersed in the 
brightening sunshine. 

The whole scene forcibly reminded us of the descrip- 
tions given of the spirit displayed in primitive times. 
To associate what was now realized with the early his- 
tory of the denomination only two centuries ago, and to 
feel that by themselves as instruments, the English 
churches were thus seeking a more intimate alliance 
and union with so much larger a body in America than 
themselves, was to the delegates an overpowering idea. 
If they were enabled in a manner at all satisfactory to 
their beloved brethren in the United States, to respond 
to their glowing sentiments of christian love, and to ex^ 
press the fraternal feeling of those by whom they were 
commissioned to visit them, they would devoutly ac- 
knowledge that grace from Him who makes his 
strength perfect in weakness, which at these seasons of 
deep responsibility, though of high enjoyment, they felt 
had been successfully, as they knew it had been ear- 
nestly, implored on their behalf by the churches at 
home. 

The appointment of committees to report upon the 
operations of different societies, to which we have al- 
ready adverted, is an excellent expedient by which the 
despatch of business as well as the saving of time is se- 
cured, and all deliberations are greatly facilitated. No 
fewer than nineteen of these sub-committees were ap- 
pointed, consisting for the most part of different indi- 
viduals nominated by the president, but finally chosen 



54 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

by the assembly. They aranged their own time of 
meeting to consider the various points confided to their 
deliberations ; and were generally prepared with their 
reports when the business confided to them was called 
on for general discussion, and final decision. Thus, for 
instance, sub-committees were appointed to arrange re- 
ligious exercises during the session ; on Indian missions ; 
to nominate persons out of whom the trustees for the 
Columbia college might be elected ; on the African mis- 
sion, <fec. (fee. It was not difficult to select men whose 
piety, habits of business, and competent knowledge of 
the matters referred to their consideration, materially as- 
sisted the final determinations of the convention. 

The Rev. A. Sutton, a missionary brother from 
Orissa, in connection with the body of general baptists, 
was present. Mr. Sutton is well known in England, 
but still better in America where he had been for many 
months. The chief object of his visit was to rouse the 
members of his own religious community, the general 
baptists, to a sense of duty relative to christian missions. 
He found an ample field among 500 or 600 congrega- 
tions containing between 20,000 and 30,000 members. 
His labours also were acceptable and useful in promot- 
ing the general interests of the gospel. He was receiv- 
ed in a similar manner with ourselves; with the equal 
greeting of hand and heart. Finally, " all ministers of 
the gospel present who are in regular standing with any 
evangelical denomination,"- were invited to a seat in the 
Convention. For this expression of liberality and chris- 
tian courtesy, the delegates were scarcely prepared, not- 
withstanding their full and settled conviction that as 
much genuine christian feeling prevails among their 
own denomination as in any section whatever of the 



I 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 55 

christian Church. Nearly thirty brethren accepted of 
the invitation. 

In the afternoon of this first day of assembly, the 
sermon before the convention was preached by the Rev. 
S. H. Cone, who enforced the duty of personal service 
in the kingdom of Christ, on all his people. There 
were generally two sermons preached every day in dif- 
ferent places. 

The missionary meeting, at which Brother Jeter had 
proposed a humble confession of the criminal indiffer- 
ence with which christians had been accustomed to look 
upon a perishing world, had adjourned its meeting, 
which was resumed on the evening of the 29th. Ac- 
customed to their own English habits, this had appeared 
to the deputation a measure of questionable expediency, 
doubtirig, as they did, if that holy fervour, in the degree 
in which it had appeared to glow in every heart, could 
be re-kindled, and fearing that the resumed discussion 
might prove flat and uninteresting. The result was 
far otherwise ; nor did it appear as if the flame would 
have expired, had the meetings been still further pro- 
tracted. The Rev. W. S. Plumer, a presbyterian min- 
ister of Richmond, who had taken his seat in the con- 
vention, lent his valuable aid on this interesting occasion. 
On Thursday, April 30th, the convention reassem- 
bled at nine o'clock, and it was resolved, that during its 
session, the hours of meeting should be from nine till 
two in the morning, and from four till six in the even- 
ing. This was the day for attending to the report of 
the board of Missions. The reading of this interesting 
and important document was once suspended to sing 
the hymn, beginning, 

" O'er the gloomy hills of darkness." 



56 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

Again, on announcing the decease of Miss Cum- 
min gs, one of the society's missionaries of great pro- 
mise, the Rev. W. B. Johnson was requested to lead the 
devotions of the assembly ; and immediately, in a 
strain of humble and holy fervour, he offered prayer, 
that the events which had removed four of the society's 
missionaries, during the three years past, might be " for 
our profit ; " gave thanks that so many had been pre- 
served, while the American board, a sister association, 
with whom the deepest sympathy was felt, had been 
called, in one year, to lament the decease of fourteen of 
their missionaries ; and further entreated the divine pro- 
tection for the surviving labourers of both societies, that 
their efforts might be rendered successful in filling the 
world with his glory. 

The reading of the report was once more suspended on 
the arrival of one of the Cherokees, a red Indian, whose 
fathers had originally roamed in undisputed liberty and 
sovereign authority over these glorious regions. It was im- 
possible to avoid associating the event, in a way of con- 
trast, with the times when his tribe were lords of the soil, 
with whom only the animals disputed the possession of 
illimitable hunting grounds ; and whose course was free 
and impetuous as that of the rivers on whose banks they 
wandered from the mountains to the sea. Then, in- 
deed, those woods often resounded with their frantic 
delights, and with the echoes of the savage war-whoop, 
but now we beheld a meek and lowly disciple of the 
Master, who was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted 
with grief." O-go-na-ye, pronounced Oganiah, is a 
Cherokee, from the Valley Towns in the western part of 
North Carolina, and formerly a member of the Chero- 
kee council of state. He was converted by the instru- 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 57 

mentality of the Rev. Evan Jones, who has been much 
blessed as a missionary to his tribe. Mr. Jones and the 
Indian arrived at the convention with the revered treas- 
urer of the body, the Hon. Heman Lincoln of Boston, 
who had been on a visit to Carolina. 

The report was again resumed, and finally adopted 5 
certain portions of it being referred to sub-committees. 
It would be out of place to introduce a lengthened 
account of the facts it details ; but the delegates feel 
that their own statement would be inexcusably imper- 
fect, without some reference to the missionary opera- 
tions of their American brethren. After alluding to the 
venerable fathers of their mission who have entered 
into their rest, the report mentions the circumstance of 
meeting in the capital of the oldest commonwealth in 
the confederacy, " Old Virginia," and expresses a cher- 
ished hope that their nation is destined to be a mighty 
instrument of good ; but asserts that the fulfilment of 
its glorious ministry, must depend on the permanence 
of its union. The board hails with delight whatever 
tends to cement those national bonds. In the sum- 
mary view of missionary proceedings, the first men- 
tioned are " Missions in America" These, in the 
true spirit of the early command to the disciples, to 
" begin at Jerusalem," are directed to the various tribes 
of Indians, both east and west of the Mississippi. 

East of the mighty Father of rivers, the Valley Towns 
in North Carolina ; Thomas, and Sault de St. Marie 
in Michigan ; the former on Grand River, the latter on 
Lake Superior ; and Tonawanda in the state of New 
York. At these stations, a few converts have professed 
their faith in Christ, by being baptized in his name 
during the year ; and the missionaries are encouraged to 

6 



59 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

persevere by favourable appearances amidst numerous 
difficulties, particularly among the Cherokees. 

West of the Mississippi, the baptist board has con- 
fined its attention to what is called, " The Indian terri- 
tory." This portion of country lies contiguous to the 
states of Arkansas, and Missouri. It may be described 
as a tract of land, speaking in round numbers, 600 
miles long from north to south, and 200 miles broad, 
though there are no specified limits to the west. A for- 
eigner would be ready to inquire whether the design 
was to hunt the scattered aborigines from all their pres- 
ent settlements into this one territory, as their fathers 
were once wont to meet, and by concerted movements 
to contract their wide circle by degrees, till the prey was 
fairly hemmed in, even within reach of the hunter's 
weapons ; but a more correct and comprehensive view 
of existing facts might lead, to a concurrence in opinion 
With many benevolent and enlightened men, that the 
security and happiness of the Indian tribes, perhaps their 
very preservation, will depend upon their being formed 
into one state, and finally allowed its star in the Ameri- 
can constellation. The late Mr. Wirt appears to have 
cherished the idea of forming a sovereign and indepen- 
dent, but confederated republic of these tribes. A simi- 
lar disposition of the descendants from Africans, a black 
as well as a red republic, might be a far happier, and more 
practicable expedient than any hitherto adopted ; but as 
if to evince the abject degradation of Africa's children, 
here the black man, in many a forlorn instance, is lit- 
erally the slave of the Indian ? Many of these idola- 
ters, who must still be regarded a savages, have learnt 
thus much, at least, of the civilization they witness 
around them — they purchase negro slaves ! 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 59 

Without entering into the political merits of the ques- 
tion, it was on every account desirable that christian 
missionaries should be employed, and, accordingly, the 
baptists, as well as the methodists and presbyterians, 
have missionaries in that territory. The posts they oc- 
cupy, are among the Shawanoe, the Delawares, the 
Otoes and Omahas, the Ottawas, the Creeks, the Chero- 
kees, and the Choctaws. The Potawatomies have their 
lands assigned, but are not yet arrived. As there was 
a station among them in Michigan, called Carey Mis- 
sionary Station, so on their removal, it will be resumed. 
By schools, as well as by preaching, attempts are made 
to evangelize these native tribes ; pleasing instances of 
success are recorded, but in some places, an excessive 
fondness for ardent spirits, which is unhappily supplied 
by white men, interferes with the good work. In other 
cases, the contempt which the Indian expresses for the 
white man's religion, is singularly associated with a de- 
termination to prevent the diffusion of it among their 
slaves. 

. The report presented by the committee appointed on 
the Indian stations, like each of the others prepared by 
the respective committees, has its own characteristic ex- 
cellences. It is a plain, faithful, manly representation 
of facts relative to the Indians. If it may be thought 
to lean towards an approval of the government measure 
of locating the aboriginal tribes in the Indian territory, 
it does so in the most unexceptionable manner, as it 
asserts that public opinion among the Indians is turning 
in favour of the project. In the brief and condensed 
view of their affairs, it states that east of the Mississippi 
there are 81,91)4 of the tribes, and west of that line, 
201,750. This does not include those already in the 



60 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

territory, of whom 21,820 were " indigenous " and 
25,000 have emigrated thither already. By this it ap- 
pears that 283,654 are still dispersed through various 
parts of the states. It must be a mighty attraction to 
draw so large a body, though divided and scattered as 
they are, to the 46,820 now resident in the territory. 
Nevertheless the report says, " removed from the perni- 
cious influence of the lower order of the whites, exposed 
to fewer temptations to vice, and united in such large 
numbers into a kindred community, they feel that they 
have reached a new era in their history. They are 
stimulated to put forth fresh exertions ; they express the 
desire to be united into one political brotherhood under a 
civil government ; and as the incentives to war have 
now disappeared from among them., moral and saving 
influences can be brought to bear upon them with 
greater effect, and with the prospect of more permanent 
results." It concludes with an affectionate reference to 
the recent arrival of the Cherokee missionary, the Rev. 
Evan Jones, and the convert Ogonaye, one of the sons 
of the forest converted from the superstition of savage 
life by the power of God. 

When the reading of the document respecting the 
Indian territory was finished, the missionary and the 
christian Cherokee sang a hymn in the native tongue ; 
an account of the rise and progress of the Valley Towns 
mission was given ; and the following letter from the 
converted natives was translated by the missionary. 

"Honoured Fathers and Brethren, 

" We avail ourselves of the coming of our beloved 
brethren, to salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus, 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 61 

We cannot see you, but we rejoice to know that we love 
the same God, the same Saviour, and the same Spirit 
actuates our hearts. You have sent the gospel to us, 
You have prayed for us. In answer to your prayers, 
and by the labours of your missionaries here, sinners 
are converted, and the gospel is spreading on every side, 
and those who have believed are advancing in the know- 
ledge of the Lord. 

u A few years ago all was darkness here ; we knew 
not God, we were ignorant of the Saviour. Our chil- 
dren, like their fathers, grew up in blindness of mind. 
Our sick had no hope, no comforter, in their afflictions, 
and all was dark beyond the grave. Now we are 
thankful for the good which God has done for us. We 
teach our children the ways of God, and many of them 
listen and attend. We visit our sick, we pray for them, 
and point them to Jesus. We salute with the most 
cordial affection your honoured treasurer. We remem- 
ber his visit. We rejoice to remember his exhortation 
to us to continue in prayer ; we bear it in mind." 

Questions were then proposed to the Cherokee, who 
is a preacher of the gospel to his brethren, and satisfac- 
tory answers were given through the missionary ; when 
the whole assembly, rejoicing in this fulfilment of the 
prediction "they of the ivilderness shall bow before 
him," united in a hymn of praise. 

This visit added to the sacred interest of the conven- 
tion in no inconsiderable degree. It was impossible to 
contemplate the person of the manly native, without 
inferring most favourably respecting both his mental 
endowments and moral character. He was a fine spe- 
cimen of his nation. When animated, his countenance 
indicated an intelligent mind and a benevolent heart - 

6* 



62 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

but he possessed in a remarkable degree the power as- 
cribed to the Indians, if indeed it were the effect of voli- 
tion, and not a mere instinct, of concealing all indica- 
tions of the workings of the inner man. That face 
was a blank, scarcely denoting even mental abstrac- 
tion, but rather the absence of all intellectual energy. 
Perhaps the impression made on a very watchful ob- 
server would be, that the design of that motionless 
gazer was to pay the most cautious arid scrutinizing 
attention to every thing, without his purpose being de- 
tected. That Ogdnaye was an intelligent observer of 
the wondrous novelties that were about to burst upon 
him on this his first visit to large cities, there was sub- 
sequently ample evidence. 

It may be doubted whether it is judicious to teach the 
natives a new written character. Many enlightened 
men are increasingly of opinion that great advantages 
would result from the adoption of the Roman letter, 
even for the Asiatic languages. Were this admitted, it 
would seem to be even more desirable to pursue this 
method among the American tribes, and would contri- 
bute much to facilitate their acquisition of English. 
Yery promising advances are made in the mental cul- 
ture and moral improvement of the aborigines, as well 
as in their taste for agricultural occupations. 

At the request of our brother Dunbar of New York, 
the following hymn was sung in connexion with the 
public reception of the Cherokee. 

An Indian's Appeal to American Christians. 
I dwell with the tempest, I'm rock'd by the storm, 
No pillow of luxury come I to crave ; 
Sole lord of the brute, in whose furs I am warm ; 
Yet pity the red man, ye sons of the wave. 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 63 

Ere the wide-spreading ocean, now rolling so blue, 
Your forefathers bore from afar to our shore, 
These forests comprised all the pleasure we knew ; 
Then pity the red man, thus happy no more. 

Ye dwell at the fountains of mental delight, 
Whence streams intellectual deliciously roll; 
And when the rich banquets so freely invite, 
pity the red man, he, too, has a soul I 

O teach him that name, to christians so dear, 
Your passport to mansions of glory on high ; 
That name which supports you in death without fear, 
Declare to the red man, and teach him to die. 

Many are the dismal forebodings that the " Indian 
Territory" will be the secure possession of the native 
tribes, only till the cupidity of the white man shall de- 
sire the inheritance. The Annual Register of Indian 
Affairs within the Indian Territory, published by Isaac 
M'Coy, promises to lend very enlightened and effectual 
aid upon subjects connected with those tribes, and 
" The Indian Advocate," to be published semi-monthly 
by some members of the regular baptist communion, 
but disclaiming every thing sectarian, will constantly 
circulate information respecting the territory. Thus, 
as Roger Williams was the first civil governor who 
recognized the proprietorship of the aborigines in the 
soil they inhabited, there is a peculiar propriety in these 
labours of the denomination of which he was the father 
in America. 

The missions to Europe have reference to a very in- 
considerable attempt at Paris, and to the important and 
interesting labours of Mr. Oncken at Hamburgh. 

In Africa, the baptist board has hitherto confined its 
labours to Liberia, of which colony it appears to be 



64 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION* 

equally impossible, whether in Europe or in America, 
to form any adequate idea, so marvellously contradic- 
tory are the reports ; and men of equal veracity, benevo- 
lence and piety, take views so diametrically opposed. 
To listen to some representations, Liberia might be 
deemed a paradise ; the descriptions of others lead one 
to think of it as a region of plagues and death. In like 
manner the expedient of conveying the descendants of 
Africa back to the land of their fathers is denounced by 
some philanthropists as the blackest of crimes ; by 
others, the deed is extolled as the most benevolent of 
virtues. Truth lies between these extremes. Slavery 
will never be abolished by this transportation of the 
emancipated to an African colony ; but in many in- 
stances, the greatest possible benefit may be conferred 
by aiding some who may choose to go, and their re- 
moval to the colony may turn out to the furtherance of 
the gospel, and the protection of injured Africa. At all 
events, as in reference to the Indian territory, and the 
removal of the native tribes thither, the Baptist board 
discharges a sacred duty by providing a missionary 
agency, whatever judgment may be formed of the poli- 
tical expedient, — so do they maintain their true charac- 
ter as a board for christian missions, by sending their 
devoted men of God to these African regions. Their 
prospects are brighter than at any former period. A let- 
ter has been since received from Liberia, giving an 
account of the baptism of several in various places, and 
particularly of the formation of the fourth and the fifth 
baptist churches. The latter was constituted at Cald- 
well of twelve members, seven of whom had been re- 
cently baptized. Fourteen or fifteen members of other 
churches were expected soon to join. The committee 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 65 

appointed to report on the African mission stated that 
" the encouragements to persevere were so marked as to 
indicate an onward progress with enlarged and acceler- 
ated movements." A mission has also been commenced 
at Hayti. 

Asia is the chief theatre of the society's operations. 
Her hundreds of millions of deluded heathens seem to 
invite the attention of all missionary institutions, deep- 
ening the conviction that a great work of preparation is 
there designed to precede some glorious triumph. Bur- 
mah is the chosen field of labour, and in that land of 
darkness, Maulmein is the principal and central station. 
Here that honoured translator of the Holy Scriptures, 
Dr. Judson, has completed his undertaking, and he re- 
cords that event in these remarkable words ; " Thanks 
be to God, I can now say I have attained ; I have knelt 
down before him with the last leaf in my hand, and, 
imploring his forgiveness for all the sins which have 
polluted my labours in this department, and his aid in 
future efforts to remove the errors and imperfections 
which necessarily cleave to the work, I have commend- 
ed it to his mercy and grace. I have dedicated it to his 
glory. May he make his own inspired word, now com- 
plete in the Burman tongue, the grand instrument of 
filling all Burmah with songs of praises to our great God 
and Saviour Jesus Christ ! Amen !" 

The native church at Maulmein consists of eighty 
members ; and churches are formed at other stations, 
viz. Tavoy, Rangoon, Ava, Chummerah, Newville, 
Mergui. At Bankok, in Siam, a very auspicious com- 
mencement is made, and missions to Arracan and China 
are determined upon ; the station at Bankok being 
deemed in every way suitable for the preparation of 



66 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

missionaries for China, the very high road to which em- 
pire, for the soldiers of the cross, is considered to be 
through Burmah. The report concludes in the follow- 
ing words : " We have now mission stations, and active 
labourers, in each of the four great continents. More 
than a hundred individuals are now wholly engaged, 
under the direction of the board, in spreading the know- 
ledge of the Saviour in heathen lands, or in countries 
where fatal errors prevail. All these individuals appear 
to be zealously devoted to their work, and to be worthy 
of the confidence of the convention. At all the stations 
the prospects are cheering, and there are strong encour- 
agements to persevere. 

" Under the direction of the board, there are twenty- 
five missionary stations, at which 112 agents are em- 
ployed, (about forty of whom are natives of the different 
regions;) eighteen churches have been planted, con- 
taining about 1350 members ; five presses are at work, 
multiplying copies of the word of God, and printing 
many hundreds of thousands of tracts." 

We were impressed with the conviction, that the spirit 
of enterprise, which is urging forward so new a country 
in its commercial rivalry of older empires, pervades also 
the church of Christ. It was, moreover, highly grati- 
fying to perceive that our own brethren, thus assembled 
in convention, participated largely in these feelings of 
sacred benevolence! They may have been, in the first 
instance, roused to exertion by British activity ; but soon 
they contended, with giant strides, in the race of benevo- 
lence. A very large number of their churches have yet 
to be awakened from the apathy w T hich once benumbed 
the English baptists. Gospel light and warmth are 
gradually diffusing their influences ; and already their 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 67 

missionary society threatens to take the lead of the bap- 
tist mission in the old country. 

Before the convention broke up, a resolution was 
passed, which recognized the duty of American bap- 
tists to engage in far more enlarged and vigorous efforts 
for the conversion of the whole w or Id— instructing the 
board to establish new missions in every unoccupied 
place, where there may be a reasonable prospect of sue* 
cess — to employ, in some part of the great field, every 
properly-qualified missionary whose services could be 
obtained -and proposing to raise 100,000 dollars for the 
service of the year, in so doing. This financial resolu- 
tion, so novel in its character to the delegation, was 
adopted at the suggestion of the Youth's Missionary 
Society of the second baptist church in Richmond, 
under the pastoral care of our estimable brother, the 
Rev. J. B. Taylor ; and from the proportion of it which 
different state conventions and local societies had resolved 
to raise before the close of the summer, no doubt was 
entertained by those best acquainted with the denomina- 
tion, that the whole amount would be duly poured into 
the treasury. 

Business connected with various religious societies was 
introduced at the sittings of the convention, and gene- 
rally in consequence of most respectful and brotherly 
communications from those bodies, as from the Virginia 
Bible Society ; the American Bible Society ; the Ameri- 
can Tract Society ; the Baptist General Tract Society ; 
the American Baptist Home Mission Society ; the New 
York City Conference of Baptist Ministers ; the American 
Sunday School Union ; the Yirginia Tract Society ; and 
from brethren of the Cherokee nation. 

The choice of a board of managers for the ensuing 



68 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

three years was succeeded, after some intermediate busi- 
ness, by the appointment of delegates to visit England, 
and to represent the American Baptist churches at the 
Baptist Union, to meet in London in June, 1836. The 
brethren selected for this service were the Rev. Doctor 
Sharp, of Boston, and Rev. Basil Manly, of Charleston, 
S. C. ; or in case of failure, Rev. Spencer H. Cone, of 
New York, and Rev. W. B. Johnson, of Edgefield, 
S. C. This reciprocation of fraternal love on the part of 
the American cl lurches, was even more than we had 
anticipated ; but it convinced us that there is nothing in 
which the older country can express christian feeling, to 
which their American friends will not respond. If the 
brethren who visit England return with impressions 
similar to those which were produced in our minds, it 
will indeed tend to make the denomination one, though 
separated by the wide Atlantic. 

Most truly did we concur in one of the concluding 
resolutions of the convention, namely, " That the har- 
mony and union which have so delightfully marked 
our present triennial session, and the manifest presence 
of the Spirit of our God, in directing our discussions and 
decisions, call on us for the exercise of the warmest 
gratitude to the great Head of the church, and a more 
entire consecration to the work of evangelizing the 
world." As a parting hymn, the same was selected to 
be sung, as had stimulated our united praises at the 
commencement of the session ; and after prayer by the 
president, the convention was adjourned. 

Some surprise has been expressed that the subject of 
slavery and the degraded condition of the descendants 
of Africa, both in a civil and religious point of view, was 
not introduced by the delegates at the triennial conven- 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 09 

tion ; but those who have remarked upon this omission 
appear to have forgotten that these topics were carefully 
avoided in the public letter.* We were left, upon those 

* Copy of the Letter. 

Address of the Baptist Union, assembled in New Park-street 
Chapel, London, June 18th, 1834, to their Brethren compos- 
ing the Baptist Triennial Convention, meeting at 
Richmond, Virginia, April 27th, 1835. 

Beloved Brethren — The gospel is a source of many 
mercies to mankind, but one in particular demands our grate- 
ful remembrance on the present occasion. It awakens by its 
spirit and doctrines a disinterested benevolence, resembling 
that which distinguished its divine Founder. The hearts of his 
followers are thus united by a bond of spiritual sympathy, 
their sorrows are divided, their joys are multiplied, and, while 
under the influence of holy hopes and desires, they long for 
the salvation of their fellow-immortals, they are combined in 
indissoluble bonds with those of the same spirit, and who 
cherish the expectation of inheriting the same glory. 

In this imperfect state, therefore, when the servants of our 
Lord are separated from each other, sometimes by physical, 
and at other times by moral causes, we embrace with pleasure 
the opportunity of addressing you, afforded by your Triennial 
Convention. We are separated from yon, brethren, by the 
ocean of mighty waters ; but we are united to you by a love 
which many waters cannot quench. Our descent is one, our 
faith is the same, and our mutual hope is fixed on the same 
eternal glory. We rejoice in the same ordinances of our ex- 
alted Lord, and feel that our duty and privilege alike impel us 
to address you, both to express the interest we take in your 
welfare, and that we may learn from you more fully the grace 
you now experience. 

You will permit us, beloved brethren, cordially to congratu- 
late you on the high privileges you possess beyond so many 
of the nations of the earth. We revert to the period when 

7 ' 



70 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

important points entirely free to pursue such a course asr 
we might think most judicious after having informed 

the " pilgrim fathers," driven by intolerance, took up their 
residence in your now happy country. With holy delight and 
gratitude we exult in the formation of your first State on the 
broad principles of entire civil and religious liberty, by Roger 
Williams, a member of our own denomination. In your nu- 
merous and flourishing churches, in the extension of divine 
truth, and in those revivals of religion with which you have 
been so happily favoured, we see the blessed fruits of volun- 
tary christian zeal ; we exclaim, what hath God wrought ! " 
and devoutly pray that your distinguished public spirit, your 
union and brotherly love, and your benevolent efforts for the 
spread of the gospel, may be long continued and greatly multi- 
plied. Much of your success in the use of the simple but pow- 
erful means of grace we ascribe under the influence of the 
Holy Spirit, to your perfect freedom from the incum- 
brances of a state religion. And we devoutly trust that, 
unimpaired in their energy and efficiency, your high privileges 
will be transmitted to the latest generation. 

Persuaded, brethren, as we are of your warmest affection 
towards us, and of the deep interest you take in our welfare 
which has been fully shown by the brethren who have visited 
our shores, and by all your publications, we will briefly state 
to you our present circumstances and prospects. 

You must be fully aware that many things with which you 
are practically unacquainted, combine, in this part of the 
world, to retard the advancement of our prosperity. Events 
however, transpiring in rapid succession, prove that these 
impediments are lessening, and that far more correct views 
of the spirituality of our Lord's kingdom are beginning to be 
cherished, which will, we trust, ere long, be prevalent around 
us. 

In addition to the evils without our immediate pale, there 
have been those within it which have tended to diminish our 
success. W 7 e have had to deplore the extensive influence of 
erroneous opinions, in reference to the moral government of 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 71 

ourselves of the existing state of parties, and of the rela- 
tive position of different societies. Expectations, it 

God, and the obligations of man; the abuse of doctrines which 
are dear to our hearts as illustrating the sovereign love of 
Jehovah, which have been unhappily perverted, -so as appa- 
rently to destroy the accountability of human beings ; and the 
encouragement of a ministry with less mental culture and in- 
formation, than the state of society demanded. We bless the 
great Head of the church that we see these evils rapidly dimi- 
nishing, and more scriptural views and holier practices be- 
coming prevalent. The results are already encouraging. The 
number of our churches has increased within the last forty 
years more than three-fold ; so that we have now certainly not 
less than one thousand churches, most of which are supplied 
with pastors. These churches probably contain from ninety- 
five to one hundred thousand members. We rejoice that very 
nearly the whole of them support flourishing Sunday-schools, 
and aid in various ways the extension of the gospel around 
them ; while Bible classes, which God appears so greatly to 
have owned among you, are growing up among us. 

We bless our heavenly Father for the success with which he 
has been pleased to honour our public societies. Our Home and 
Foreign Missions— our societies for the diffusion of divine truth 
in Ireland, and on the continent of Europe, with our colleges 
for the education of the rising ministry, are all favoured with 
support, with usefulness, and with prospects unenjoyed at any 
former period of their history. Every year deepens our con- 
viction, that while we honour God by extending his glory, 
he will honour us with increasing personal enjoyment and 
with growing success in accomplishing his great designs. 

We cannot, beloved brethren, pass from this topic, without 
expressing our high gratification, excited by the kind sympa- 
thy you have manifested towards our Irish Society, and the 
affectionate esteem you showed towards our brother, the Rev. 
Stephen Davis. We accept these expressions of your chris- 
tian benevolence, both as indicating your zeal for the common 
cause of extending the gospel, and as showing your regard to 



72 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

appears, were entertained, that we should have stood 
forward, not merely as abolitionists, which we were 

us, as a denomination. The value of your donations was ex- 
ceedingly enhanced, by being given at a season when they 
were so especially needed, and by the cheerful promptness 
with which they were afforded. We regret to add, that the 
society you thus so materially assisted, is yet burdened with a 
heavy debt, and has greatly suffered from the death of its re- 
vered secretary the Rev. Joseph Ivimey. 

We trust, dear brethren, that you will unite with us in praise 
to our heavenly Father, for the many things which claim our 
gratitude. Our lot is cast in the most eventful times whichhave 
ever passed over our country. We feel more urgently called 
upon than at any previous period, to oppose infidelity and 
false religion at home, and to join the ranks of the christian 
church at large, in destroying the heathenism and superstition 
which yet govern so large a portion of the earth. We witness 
efforts daily increasing in number and in power, to separate in 
our country the unholy union between the church and the 
world; and tremblingly alive to our responsibility and our 
dangers, we implore the millions of our beloved brethren 
across the Atlantic to "pray for us." Entreat, we beseech 
you, our Father and your Father, our God and your God, that 
in this great contest we may be preserved from the defilements 
of the world, and may hate even the garments spotted by the 
flesh. Implore that on us the Spirit of our God may descend, 
that we may exemplify the pure and enlightened principles 
of Christianity, and constrain the enemies of the truth to glorify 
our Lord. 

And now, beloved brethren, we repeat the assurance of 
our warmest affection for you. We sympathize in all your 
joys and your sorrows: we earnestly pray that you may 
enjoy the presence of the great Head of the church in all 
your assemblies ; and that wisdom and power may be bestowed 
upon you ; and finally we entreat our God, that our mutual 
piety, zeal, and devotion may be sanctified by his Spirit to the 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 73 

universally known to be, but as advocates of parti- 
cular measures, and associates with a specific agency, 
sent for the avowed purpose of lecturing upon the subject 
of emancipation. On this account alone, it may be 
proper here to introduce a topic, which, otherwise, would 
not have been touched upon in these details. Further 
remarks will be necessary hereafter, in adverting to 
another meeting. At present, we have only to explain 
that the laws of the state prohibit all such public discus- 
sions in Virginia, as that which it had been imagined 
we might have introduced at Richmond ; consequently 
the convention would have been dissolved by the magis- 
trates, had it been attempted. But the convention itself 
would not, and could not have been convened, with the 
understanding that the abolition of slavery was to be 
discussed ; and inasmuch as such discussion in the tri- 
ennial meeting of the missionary society, would not have 
approved itself to the majority of delegates assembled for 
other purposes, they would have dissolved themselves 
without, had it been attempted, awaiting magisterial 
interference. 

advancement of his glory throughout the world. Never may 
our labours cease, till the earth be filled with his glory. 

Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you 
all. Amen. 

We are, beloved brethren, yours, in the faith and service 
of our blessed Redeemer. 

[Signed by order and in the presence of the Baptist Union, 

in New Park-street Chapel, London, June 18, 1834.] 
F. A. COX, LL.D. Chairman. 
W. H. Murch, of Stepney College, Joseph Belcher, 

Secretaries. 
W. Newman, D.D., J. E. Giles, Charles Stovel, 
Thomas Price, Thomas Thomas, Committee. 
7* 



74 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

To this it may be added, that we made our appear- 
ance uninvited. It was altogether spontaneous on the 
part of the Union to adopt this mode of cultivating 
christian love and intercourse with distant brethren of 
the same family. To have pursued a course from 
which it was known such results would ensue as those 
to which we have adverted, and at so sacred and hea- 
venly a meeting as that which it was our privilege to 
attend, would have been, on our part, an intrusion as 
rude as it would have been unwelcome ; as injurious as 
it would have been indelicate. 

Could we even have elicited, by any means, the 
agitating discussions wmich an avowal of anti-sjavery 
sentiments, on such an occasion and in a slave-holding 
state, would have called forth, it became obvious, from 
our private inquiries and conferences, that we must neces- 
sarily have at once frustrated every object of our mission, 
awakened hostility and kindled dislike, not to ourselves 
only, but to our whole denomination ; and, above all, rous- 
ed into embittered activity, feelings between christian 
brethren which must have severed the baptist churches, 
who required to be convinced, and not coerced. This ques- 
tion assumed a shape, which not only exhibited all these 
dangers, but, as it has been more and more evinced, 
tended to the political disruption of a mighty empire. 
In a state of moral and spiritual feeling, too, in which 
we had succeeded in calling forth the kindliest emotions, 
the warmest affections, the loveliest spirit towards our- 
selves, towards England, and mankind, we were accord- 
ing to some persons, to have thrown the apple of dis- 
cord — we were to have compelled the actions of those 
to whom we were foreigners, and by whom we were 
cherished and loved — we were at our outset to have 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 75 

aimed a blow at the very constitution of their own society, 
to which we were only visitors, and admitted and for the 
time incorporated as delegates, to unite in holy love and 
holy effort, British and American churches — and all this 
we were to have done, as some fervent spirits argue, reck- 
less of consequences to ourselves and to them — to the 
utter confusion of all order, the ruin of all christian feel- 
ing, the destruction of all love and fellowship ! And could 
we do it ? Will the warmest partisan, if he be a chris- 
tian, say we ought to have done it ? Could our con- 
sciences have been satisfied to do it? Would sound 
wisdom and discriminating judgment have sanctioned 
the attempt. 

On ihe ensuing Sabbath (May 3d) each of the dele- 
gates was appointed to preach twice ; an arrangement 
with which, notwithstanding their desire to be hearers, 
the kindness of their American brethren rendered it im- 
possible to refuse compliance. Crowded and attentive 
audiences were assembled at each meeting. Other min- 
isters were also engaged in their appropriate duties in 
different places of worship ; and it was a pleasing fea- 
ture of the religion of the city, that the regular services 
of the presbyterian and methodist churches were on this 
hallowed day transferred to the visiting brethren of the 
denomination which assembled on the occasion. It was 
deeply regretted afterwards, a regret in which we fully 
participated, that preparations had not been made for an 
out-door service, in which all the thousands of Israel 
might have united in worship. This was the only cir- 
cumstance that seemed wanting to complete the pleasure 
of this great denominational festivity. 

In the course of the proceedings during the past week, 
the executive committee of the American Baptist Home 



76 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

Missionary Society had presented a solemn and impas- 
sioned address to the convention on the claims of home, 
which, like similar communications, had been referred 
to a sub-committee. This appeal concluded by implor- 
ing the convention to enter upon the business of the 
home mission, with a determination not to separate "till 
the deliberations growing out of our affairs and relations 
shall be concluded, even though protracted for several 
days." It was resolved to print this communication with 
the minutes ; and on account of the importance of the 
object, the members were entreated to give their atten- 
dance for two days. It was the anniversary of the soci- 
ety, and was to be held on Monday, May 4th. The 
sittings of the convention having proved unusually 
interesting, an apprehension was entertained, lest the 
continued excitement of the previous week, should pre- 
vent a powerful interest in this meeting, especially as the 
estimable secretary, Dr. Going, though he had travelled 
from New- York on purpose, had been hitherto incapac- 
itated by an attack of cholera from attending the 
meetings. 

A few members of the convention had been obliged 
to leave, but the assembly at ten o'clock on Monday, 
May 4th, was not perceptibly different from those on 
other occasions. The Hon. Heman Lincoln occupied 
the chair, and Mr. Cone read the report. The details 
of this valuable document well sustained the appeal that 
had been previously addressed to the convention. The 
principal field of the society's operations is the Great 
Valley. Ninety-seven preachers are employed ; but as 
many of these were described to be working, rather 
than writing men, by which was meant, doing the work 
of evangelists, rather than reporting its performance, 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION 77 

only a general view of success could be given. During 
the year, sixty new churches had been constituted, and 
2500 members added, of whom 1200 were new con- 
verts. The applications for assistance continued to in- 
crease in number and urgency. In deploring the desti- 
tution of the churches, it was stated, that among 5888 
churches, there were only 3110 ministers ; and when a 
judicious deduction is made for such as are but imper- 
fectly qualified, or partially devoted to it, while the more 
populous and longer-settled regions have a far larger 
number of pastors in proportion to the number of 
churches than the more recently settled counties can 
have, it is obvious, that the vast sphere of the society's 
labours must be distressingly destitute. It is true, many 
of these churches meet in what may be regarded as 
merely preaching stations, suited to the convenience of 
a very scattered population, where the superintendance 
of three or four such churches is an essentially different 
kind of service from that which it must be in an old 
and populous country. Ten years is represented as the 
shortest period of time in which, by most zealous and 
benevolent labours, the work proposed by the Home 
Missionary Society can be achieved. It may well be 
extended beyond that limit, when the object avowedly 
aimed at, is to provide between 2000 and 3000 more 
well-qualified and educated christian ministers, together 
with the means for the sound and religious education of 
people constantly and rapidly increasing from the tide of 
emigrants. We felt great satisfaction in the opportunity 
of taking part in the deliberations of this closing meet- 
ing. The object was to us one of special interest, hav- 
ing in immediate prospect an extensive visit to the 
.churches. The greater part of the day was occupied 



78 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

with home mission business, and the society resumed 
its meeting on the day following. 

We fixed on Tuesday, May 5th, as the day of our 
departure for New York, where we proposed to attend 
the anniversary meetings of the most important socie- 
ties. As several of our valued brethren from the west, 
particularly the devoted and energetic labourer in the 
Great Valley, the Rev. J. M. Peck, were anxious to 
have a conference on the best means of evangelizing 
that vast region, we met for the purpose, through the 
fraternal kindness of the Rev. I. Hinton, to whose house 
the party was invited. Many judicious suggestions 
were made, and some projects discussed with special 
reference to emigrants, who are often imposed upon, and 
experience inconvenience and loss for want of informa- 
tion. 

The last evening was spent with friends, whose cour- 
teous hospitality during the period of the meetings de- 
mands a grateful record. Mr. and Mrs. Wortham, we 
trust, will feel assured that we shall ever entertain a 
lively sense of the numerous kindnesses received from 
themselves and their family during our visit to Rich- 
mond — a place never to be erased from our memories, 
where we were continually prompted to think of " the 
general assembly and church of the first born." On its 
inhabitants, together with all the christian multitude 
with whom we held communion there, we will not cease 
to implore the descent of " showers of blessing." Last 
days and last hours will arrive ; the most delightful and 
profitable meetings will at length terminate ! The 5th 
of May came to our somewhat saddened spirits, — sad- 
dened by the remembrance of joys departed, perhaps 
never to be renewed, — in all the contrasted loveliness of 



THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 79 

a bright and balmy morning. Horses, carriage, and 
servants were in early requisition, and by the devoted at- 
tentions of Mr. Wortham and his son, Dr. Wortham, no 
inconvenience was experienced, though it was necessary 
to be on board the steam boat at six o'clock. 

The whole time of this visit to Richmond might have 
been occupied, could it have been so consistently with 
duty, in a participation of the polite hospitalities of the 
gentry resident in the neighbourhood, as well as in de- 
lightful intercourse with Christian friends of all denomi- 
nations. But one or two invitations only could be ac- 
cepted, when, among other topics, it was invariably our 
object to elicit opinions relative both to the Indian tribes 
and the coloured people. On the latter subject, and that 
connected with slavery, we were anxious not to leave the 
south without a faithful and solemn expression of our 
own principles and feelings, and those of our brethren at 
home, in as large a private party of influential brethren 
as could be convened. It was entrusted to a brother, in 
whom the fullest confidence might be reposed, to invite 
those with whom it would be most important to confer, 
and from whose conversation the most information 
might be obtained to guide our own judgments relative 
to a public co-operation with the abolition agency, and 
the society about to hold its anniversary in New York, 
There are no terms in which we have been accustomed 
in England to express abhorrence of slavery, which 
were not freely employed on this occasion. The same 
arguments we and others at home have used, in order 
to repel those which have always been adduced in sup- 
port of this system, were employed there for the same 
purpose ; and solemn appeals were made to the brethren 
on the influence which the church of Christ in general, 



80 THE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. 

and our own section of it in particular, ought to exert. 
The honour put upon our own brethren, who not only 
first suffered for Christ's sake, and then became instru- 
mental in rescuing his suffering flock, was adduced ; 
and in return, each of the brethren assembled gave, 
consecutively, an opinion upon the general aspect of 
their affairs, and the existing movements of various par- 
ties. We had no reason to regret having sought this 
conference, which may not have been unattended with 
benefit on the minds of our friends. We trust that our 
next meeting, whether on earth or in heaven, will be 
marked by reciprocal and joyous congratulations on our 
own freedom from every unholy prejudice, and the uni- 
versal happiness of an emancipated world ! 






81 



CHAPTER IV. 

DEPARTURE FROM RICHMOND. — ACCOUNTS OF PUBLIC 
MEETINGS AT BALTIMORE AND NEW YORK. 

Although upwards of a week had been spent in 
Richmond, we could not command leisure for more than 
a hasty glance at the city. The business of that solemn 
convocation which we had crossed the Atlantic to attend^ 
and the sittings of associated institutions, absorbed the 
whole of our time. 

The city being built upon an eminence on the banks 
of the James river, presents, in some points of view, a 
very imposing appearance, but when examined in de- 
tail, scarcely sustains the expectation raised. Some of 
the public buildings are worthy of the chief city of so 
old a state, and there are indications of the activity of 
trade and commerce beyond what might have been 
looked for in a slave mart. Many genteel residences 
grace the broad avenues leading from the town, adorned 
with shrubs and trees, which at the time of our visit 
were bright and beautiful in the freshness of the sudden 
spring. The population of the city is about 16,000 J 
there are twelve or thirteen churches, offering ample ac- 
commodation for public worship. The edifice in which 
the first baptist church assemble, is' a spacious old- 
fashioned building, capable of holding more than 2000 
hearers, and attended by multitudes of coloured people^ 
but few of whom were seen at either the second or third 

8 



$2 



JAMES RIVER. 



churches. Mr. Taylor's is a large commodious house^ 
and the congregation is highly respectable. The num- 
ber of members is between 400 and 500. Our third 
church meets in a new place of worship ; the attempt to 
raise a congregation in that part of the city is recent, 
and there is a very encouraging prospect of success. 

Our course was down James river, a beautiful navi- 
gation, indeed the most attractive we have hitherto seen. 
In width, it may be compared with the Thames, but the 
scenery is generally superior. For fifty miles, the banks 
are fringed with a luxuriant vegetation, covering a wavy 
line of low hills. They are richer still with spiritual 
verdure. Several of the old and valuable plantations 
are occupied by religious people, chiefly baptists ; many 
of them wealthy. Mr. Hume, the minister at Ports- 
mouth, who accompanied us, was once settled a few 
miles from Richmond on the borders of the river, and 
gave a good account of the prosperity of the country. 
The river is exceedingly serpentine, in consequence of 
which, we often appeared to be in the centre of a lake 
Without any apparent outlet. Frequently the houses 
and plantations were reflected as in a mirror upon the 
unruffled surface, and with a clearness, and to an ex^ 
tent, which we have seldom seen surpassed. At the 
distance of forty-five miles is City Point, as it is termed, 
where the waters of the Appomattox flow in and widen 
the stream of the James river. We stopped a moment 
at the point where Jamestown, the first settlement, was 
erected ; only long enough, however, to discern its ruin- 
ed appearance. 

During the last year, the church at Portsmouth under 
Mr. Hume's care, has received 116 members, a large 
proportion of 230, of which it at present^consists ; it is 



PORTSMOUTH. 83 

in a healthy and flourishing state. The chapel con- 
tains about 1000, and they are going to erect a new one, 
to hold, probably, double the number. The 116 members 
who have recently joined, are, for the most part, Mr. H. 
states, persons of intelligence and influence. They have 
a prosperous Sunday school, consisting of 400 scholars. 
In 1830-31, a glorious work of religion commenced in 
Chesterfield county, which continued from eighteen to 
twenty-four months. During this time, 1200 were bap- 
tized and added to the churches. Among these were 
very many of the highest worldly respectability, — chiefly 
males and whites ; and they have since, with few ex- 
ceptions, continued steadfast, and proved themselves use- 
ful members of churches. 

There is a flourishing baptist church at Norfolk, and 
the body is altogether stronger than that at Portsmouth, 
on the opposite side the river ; it was therefore much re- 
gretted that arrangements had not been made to have a 
meeting there. The disappointment was mutual, but 
it was not practicable to spend another day in that 
neighbourhood. 

The towns of Portsmouth and Gosport adjoin ; the 
streets are of convenient width, and laid out at right 
angles. The navy yard is the chief attraction, and pre- 
sented some objects of great interest, particularly the 
floating floodgate, a simple and ingenious contrivance to 
take off the vast pressure of the water from the ordinary 
gates of a dry dock. This is effected by the nice adjust- 
ment of an immense elliptical tun or vat made to fit into 
grooves, as it gradually sinks, by increasing its specific 
gravity by letting in water, — when it has reached the 
bottom, the water is pumped from the dry dock : as oc- 
casion requires, the dock is again filled, and the gate as 



tf4 JAMES RIVER. 

easily rises, by pumping out some of the water which 
had been admitted into it, and when afloat, is removed 
out of the way, being only an immense elliptical barrel 
properly ballasted. 

On the 6th it was necessary to proceed to Baltimore, 
to attend the public meetings. On reaching the track 
kept by vessels from Richmond, at the mouth of the 
rivers in Hampton Roads, we took on board several 
friends on their return from the Richmond convention. 
Among the number were Ogonaye and Mr. Jones, who 
were on their way to some missionary meetings, to be 
held in the chief cities. The passengers were much 
impressed with the mild benevolence of the Indian's 
countenance, and to many of them it was highly grati- 
fying to gather in little groups round the missionary and 
his intelligent convert. By proposing questions through 
Mr. Jones as interpreter, which were calculated to elicit 
the ideas entertained by this descendant of the aborigi- 
nal lords of the soil, on the nature of divine truth, an 
opportunity was afforded to him of preaching the gos- 
pel of the kingdom, to those who now possessed the 
lands of his fathers. Ogonaye spoke with great sim- 
plicity and faithfulness. Several expressed themselves 
as both surprised and delighted, while some seemed 
peculiarly impressed on hearing such truths from the 
lips of an Indian. Mr. Jones informed us he had 230 
members who do not understand English. He was 
originally induced to go among the Cherokees from an 
impression that it would be possible to learn their lan- 
guage by residing in the midst of the tribe. He had 
found the Indians prompt to second all his endeavours. 
Wherever two or three were converted, others were sure 
^o follow ; and applications had been made to him foy 



JAMES RIVER. 85 

preaching and teaching, from thirty, forty, and even 
fifty miles distance. He had found much encourage- 
ment, and had baptized five before he left home. An 
interesting anecdote was communicated at the conven- 
tion respecting the children of some Indians, whose 
state of mind had been accidentally ascertained in the 
following manner. To promote their improvement in 
the English language, the teacher had established a 
rule, that on certain days the children should not use 
their native tongue. On one of these English days, a 
group of little girls were overheard using the prohibited 
dialect. On being interrogated they said, "we were 
praying and did not know how to pray in English" 
This was the commencement of considerable success 
in the christian efforts which were employed for evan- 
gelizing the tribe to which the children belonged. 

Let those who doom the Indian tribes to destruction, 
under the monstrous pretext that the Anglo-Saxon race 
never have lived, and never can live, in the neighbour- 
hood of other portions of the human family, without 
assuming lordly control over them, to which the Indians 
will never submit, consider well the influence which the 
gospel is about to exert as " a sovereign balm for all our 
woes." It is assuredly the only hope alike of the black 
man and the red man, as it is the only safeguard and 
solace of Adam's fairer offspring. 

The following hymn, sung by one of the brethren on 
board, the Rev. Daniel Dodge, was, from the affecting 
associations of the moment, listened to with deep in* 
terest. 

" In de dark wood, no Indian nigh, 
Den me look hebben, and send up cry, 
Upon my knees so low, 
8* 



86 



JAMES RIVER, 



Dat God on high in shiny place- 
See me in night wid teary face ; 
De priest, him tell me so. 

m God send him angel, take me care, 
He come he self— he hear me prayer,. 

If inside heart do pray. 
He see me now, he know me here, 
He say, poor Indian, nebber fear, 

Me wid you night and day. 

u Now me love God wid inside heart j 
He fight for me, he take me part, 

He save my life before. 
God love poor Indian in de wood, 
So me love God, and dat be good ; 

Me praise him two time more. 

" When me be old, me head be grey, 
Den he no leave me, so him say, 

Me wid you till you die. 
Den take me up to shiny place ; 
See white man, red man, black man face, 

All happy like on high." 

Chesapeake Bay is the vast mouth of many magnifi- 
cent rivers. These take their rise for the most part in 
the same central mountain regions, and here comming- 
ling their streams, pour their accumulated waters into 
the Atlantic. The ocean outlet is guarded by Cape 
Charles to the north and Cape Henry to the south on 
the eastern side of the bay. Our course lay nearer to 
the mouths of the rivers on the western coast. It was 
mortifying to pass the Potomac without revisiting 
Washington, where our stay had been short, but we 
were bound for the Patapsco, and were to sleep in the 
packet. 

A gentleman on board, a Virginian planter and a 



JAMES RIVER. 87 

slave holder but an abolitionist, informed us that 
although he had sat in congress, he was compelled to 
relinquish public life as a politician in consequence of 
his views on the subject of emancipation. Whether 
such a determination on the part of a benevolent and 
intelligent man arose from the difficulty of securing his 
election in a slave state, or the subsequent difficulty of 
discharging his duties as a statesman, it is equally to be 
deplored. Many who seem to have escaped from the 
prejudice against colour, allow their minds to be imposed 
upon by observing the abject state to which oppression 
has reduced the slave ; and certainly, even when under 
the influence of religious feeling, there is so great a pros- 
tration of the man, it may require generations to elevate 
the black to equal freedom and dignity. A striking 
instance of this was given in a narrative relative to a man 
who was discovered, while praying, by a gentleman of 
the name of Smith, as he rode through a forest in Vir- 
ginia ; but surely there is no cause for alarm from those 
who are subjected to such a pitiable degree of mental 
degradation. The traveller was on horseback, and 
thinking he heard a human voice, he rode toward the 
thicket whence it seemed to proceed. When sufficiently 
near, he overheard a voice, though he could discern no 
object; he only caught the words, "O Lord, lookee 
down, see poor nigger ; him heart as black as skin — 
dear Lord Jesus came all way down to save poor nig- 
ger !" Here the horse snorted, and alarmed the pros- 
trate black. He raised himself a little and cried out 
beseechingly; "Oh no whippee poor nigger." Mr S. 
" What were you doing 9 " Slave : " Praying to God." 
Mr. S. "What for?" Slave: "Me poor nigger; 
sinner black heart, black as skin ; me come to wood 



88 JAMES RIVER. 

pray God save me." Mr. S. " Boy, I pray to the same 
God." Slave, " Do you ? " Mr. S. " Yes, and will 
pray with you." Slave (falling flat on his face,) " Oh do, 
Massa, and kneel upon poor nigger ! " Mr. Smith im- 
mediately knelt down, but as will be readily conceived not 
upon him, but by his side ; and thus they both worship- 
ped together Him who made of one blood all nations of 
men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and who 
by one and the same precious blood will wash away the 
equally offensive stain of sin, upon the white man, and 
the black. 

In the evening we received a respectful application 
from a few gentlemen who had formed themselves into 
a committee, of which the Virginian planter was chair- 
man, to request that we would engage in such devotional 
exercises and addresses as we might think proper, provided 
the captain would give his consent, and it should be found 
generally agreeable. We, of course, consented, and as the 
greater part of the passengers were present, we had a 
numerous and very attentive audience. It was delight- 
ful thus to be permitted to scatter the seed of the word in 
every variety of situation, accompanied, as it was, by 
those who led our devotions, with many fervent prayers. 

On our arrival at Baltimore on the morning of the 
7th, we met with a second cordial reception at the house 
of Mr. Levering. At three o'clock, a Bethel meeting 
was held in the large baptist chapel ; on which occasion, 
after a sermon by Dr. Cox, Dr. Hoby, Mr. Sutton and 
others addressed the assembly. In the evening, the 
second annual meeting of the Maryland State Bible 
Society was convened in the presbyterian church. The 
assembly was large, and characterized by the utmost 
seriousness of conduct, and unanimity of feeling. 



BALTIMORE. 89 

On the following day we attended and took part in 
the anniversary of the Sunday School Society. It 
afforded us great satisfaction to find a powerful interest 
in this cause kindling in this "monumental city," which 
comprises now not only those of a patriotic character, 
but monuments in honour of religion, benevolence, and 
science. A visit to the public schools did not, however, 
afford all the satisfaction anticipated. It cannot but be 
regretted that there should exist in any part of Christen- 
dom a power and influence sufficient to prevent the 
introduction of the Holy Scriptures into these semina- 
naries. Whether this was accomplished in Baltimore 
by popish or infidel objectors, could not be ascertained 
on inquiry, perhaps it was a combined effort ; but cer- 
tainly some questions of a very general nature though 
connected with revelation, and put as was thought in a 
very kind and proper way, were sometimes answered 
with a pertness, and sometimes with a sullenness, which 
proved that those who love the word of God have yet 
much to accomplish for the youth of their prosperous 
city. Not even their forty or fifty places of worship will 
compensate for this withholding of the Scriptures from 
the rising race. The Orphan Asylum for infants ap- 
peared to be in every respect well conducted. 

The coloured people of Baltimore, attracted much at- 
tention on the Sabbath. In personal appearance and 
genteel attire they vied with any portion of the natives 
seen in the streets. The effect was often that of sur- 
prise, when, after having been struck with some well- 
clothed human form moving before you with a grace 
equal to that of any of God's intelligent offspring around, 
you suddenly discovered by some turn of the head or 
stop which allowed you to pass, that the black brand 



90 BALTIMORE. 



was there, the darkest hues indelibly burnt in Afric's 
colour still dyeing the children of America, and pro- 
claiming the wrongs which Ethiopia has received from 
our hands. How weak and foolish is this feeling of 
surprise ; as if the mind of genius cannot create, and 
the hand of art evolve, a form as beautiful or as majestic 
from the rough mass which nature in her laboratory has 
stained with deeper tints, as from the Parian marble of 
purest white! Who then will call in question divine 
skill? The prejudice in reference to corporeal form 
must yield to the demonstration of fact ; and it may yet 
be demanded, whether there are any data to show 
original mental inferiority when God has moreover 
adorned so many of his sable offspring with every 
christian grace which can either beautify or ennoble 
humanity ? 

On the principle often avowed during the visit of the 
delegates, that they were sent as much to the churches 
composed of coloured people as to those whose members 
were of European descent, several applications to preach 
on the evening of Lord's day, May 10th, were declined, 
for the purpose of addressing the African church. In 
consequence, however, of some misunderstanding, the 
engagement was not completed. This afforded an op- 
portunity of attending in the evening at the worship of 
the methodist coloured church. 

The pulpit being occupied by a white precacher in 
that connexion, a discourse of no ordinary excellence 
and power was delivered from the first Psalm. It might 
have been regarded as somewhat deficient in evangelical 
sentiment, by a stranger prepossessed with the erroneous 
notion that the congregation could comprehend nothing 
but the most plain elementary truths. But the preacher 






BALTIMORE. 91 

spoke as if he knew that his audience would appreciate 
whatever is ordinarily addressed to a less swarthy race, 
and the congregation gave frequent and very audible 
evidence that the most striking points were by no means 
lost upon them. Casual conversation with many of 
these christian worshippers, produced the conviction that 
there existed no difference between them and their whiter 
brethren of similar rank in life, if they were free, but that 
imperfect articulation of our language, which is perhaps 
a misfortune rather than a fault. In the morning, the 
first baptist church, of which the Rev. Mr. Hill had 
just become the pastor, naturally claimed a sermon. 
A large and respectable audience assembled in their 
spacious place of worship. It is a circular building 
about eighty feet in diameter, and with its beautiful 
entrance may be regarded as one of the ornaments of the 
town, In the afternoon it was crowded to excess. Dr. 
Sharp, of Boston, preached a judicious and impressive 
sermon on behalf of the home mission ; after which, 
Ogonaye the Cherokee convert delivered, through 
Mr. Jones as interpreter, an address of touching sim- 
plicity. 

Being solicitous of attending as many of the anni- 
versary meetings of New York to which we had been 
invited as practicable, while Dr. Hoby remained for the 
sabbath in Baltimore, Dr. Cox repaired to Philadelphia, 
in order to comply with a special request to give his 
assistance at the American Seaman's Friend Society, on 
Monday evening, May 11th, at New York. This he 
was barely able to accomplish, having been detained in 
solitude by illness at Philadelphia^ and thus precluded 
from a brief renewal in that city of the public service and 
private intercourse which had been before enjoyed. The 



92 NEW YORK. 

whole of Saturday, and again the whole of Monday, were 
employed in discussions with some of the leaders both in 
the Anti-slavery and Colonization Societies, and the 
Temperance Society, who were companions in the 
steam packets. 

The meeting of the Seaman's Friend Society was 
one of great interest and excitement. The large chapel 
in Chatham-street was crowded, and the people once 
deviated from the American sobriety into the English 
custom of loud applause. There are eighteen ports on 
the coasts of the United States, where societies are 
organized for the benefit of seamen ; in ten of which, 
namely, Portland, Salem, Boston, New Bedford, Mystic 
Bridge, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, 
and Savannah, the gospel is regularly preached to 
them. The Society is chiefly engaged in maintaining 
chaplains for seamen in foreign countries, as at' Canton, 
the Sandwich Islands, Havre, Marseilles, Smyrna, and 
a few other places. The receipts for the last year were 
dollars. 

We reunited at our friend Mr. Purser's on Tuesday 
morning, when our decision was final not to attend 
the Anti-slavery Society. This subject will be better 
resumed after a brief reference to other anniversa- 
ries. 

The Deaf and Dumb Institution excited great interest, 
and brought together a vast concourse of ladies and 
gentlemen of the first respectability. The performances 
of the pupils were alike creditable to themselves and to 
their instructor, affording the most gratifying evidence 
of what human ingenuity can accomplish to alleviate 
the afflictions and supply the necessities of our nature. 
In such institutions it is undesirable to teach the art of 



NEW YORK. 98 

speaking, for wherever this is attempted, it only occa- 
sions an utterance which is both revolting and useless. 
On this occasion nothing could surpass the manual 
language, if it may be so called) to which the instruc- 
tions are judiciously confined. The charm was so 
great, that in two or three hours the audible communi- 
cation of ideas appeared to be almost unnecessary, 
especially when the attitudes of devotion imparted 
meaning, dignity, and force, to " expressive silence." 

At five o'clock on the same afternoon the children of 
the Sabbath schools and their teachers assembled in the 
Park, from ten to twelve thousand in number. They 
sang some hymns, and were addressed by Dr. Cox* 
Prayer was offered by Dr. Milnor. It is impossible 
adequately to represent the impressive character of such 
an assembly convened in the open air, in the midst of 
this splendid city, and attracting to it the ever-gathering 
multitudes of its population. As the swelling notes of 
praise ascended to heaven, it suggested to the pious 
mind the thought of that concourse of all holy beings be- 
fore the throne, of whose celebrations the poet sings 

" And infant voices join the song 
Of Moses and the Lamb." 

The Sabbath school system was introduced into New 
York in 1816. The number of schools under the care 
of the society in that city is sixty-seven, with 1,995 
teachers. Of these 1 ,633 are professors 6f religion, 726 
have been Sunday-school pupils. No fewer than 104 
teachers and 142 pupils had professed religion during 
the year ; and thirty teachers and eight pupils are pre- 
paring for the ministry. The number of pupils is 
13,308. Sixty-three libraries contain 21,875 volumes, 

9 



94 NEW YORK. 

Infant classes are connected with many of the schools 
In twenty-two schools there are 1,456 infant scholars* 
It is supposed that there are between 40,000 and 50.000 
children in New York from four to sixteen years of age, 
of whom 25,000 attend the Sabbath schools. The 
methodists and episcopalians are not connected with the 
Union. In many parts there is an ample field of exer- 
tion. At the Anniversary meeting in the evening, the 
secretary of the American Sunday School Union stated, 
that in Indiana not one child in six had learned to read. 
The following is an affecting anecdote of a little coloured 
girl in one of the schools. About a fortnight before she 
Was seized with the small pox, which terminated in 
her death, she gave evidence of a change of heart. 
Patience, resignation, and love of the Saviour, were 
strikingly evinced during her illness. When quite 
blind she exhorted all around her to bless and praise the 
Lord, and exclaimed, " Come, Lord Jesus, and take me 
home, and put me on a white robe /" When no longer 
able to speak, her hands were lifted up in prayer ; and 
in this attitude she calmly expired. 

On Wednesday, the annual meeting of the Tract 
Society was held. S. V. S. Wilder, Esq., president, in 
the chair. The work proposed at the south, a year 
ago, of supplying every accessible family with one or 
more of the society's standard volumes, has been prose- 
cuted with energy in Virginia. More than 12,000 
have been forwarded for the purpose ; and the work has 
commenced under favourable auspices in North Carolina. 
The following resolution, with reference to this subject 
was adopted on this occasion : " That in accordance with 
the suggestions of auxiliary societies, public meetings, 
and respected individuals, in various parts of the country, 



NEW YORK. 95 

this society will endeavour, as soon as practicable, to 
supply with its standard evangelical volumes, the entire 
accessible population of the United States." It was 
also resolved, "That with the blessing of God, this 
society will endeavour to meet all the providential 
openings for tract distribution in foreign and pagan 
lands" Nearly three millions of tracts and volumes 
had been circulated during the year. Receipts during 
the year, 9,230,781 dollars, exceeding the previous one 
by 25,000 dollars. An eagerness for tracts and books 
seems prevalent in the east. A second tour up the 
Irawaddy from Rangoon to Ava has been performed, 
in which Mr. Cutter estimated that they passed four 
hundred and forty-five cities, towns, and villages, 
distributing tracts till their supply was exhausted. Some 
were afraid to receive them ; but others came " wading 
through the water," others " running down the sides of 
the banks, and swimming off from the shore," and others 
still, "in boats" to "get books, which told about the new 
religion." Mr. Sutton, from India, said that he had 
been much engaged in distributing tracts among the 
pilgrims to the temple of Juggernaut. He had gone out 
in an evening in his clean white dress, and had been so 
thronged by eager applicants, that when he returned 
home, he was as black as a chimney sweeper. One of 
their first converts, a priest of Juggernaut, was converted 
through the instrumentality of a tract, and nearly all 
the native conversions could be traced to similar means. 
Mr. Abeel stated that the religion of the Boodhists was 
propagated in China in the same manner. He exhibited 
several, showing that their zeal and ingenuity had pre- 
ceded us, in the diffusion of idolatry. 

The American Home Missionary Society met in the 



96 NEW YORK. 

evening-. Though assuming a general designation, it is 
composed of presbyterians and congregation alists. The 
number of missionaries employed, is 719 ; of whom 484 
are settled ministers. The number of congregations 
supplied, is 494. The whole number added to the 
churches by profession, through this instrumentality, 
during the year, is 3000 ; sabbath scholars, about 40,000 j 
and bible-class scholars, 12,000. Receipts during the 
year, 81,260 dollars. 

On Thursday morning-, the nineteenth annual meeting 
of the Bible Society was celebrated. Hon. J. C. Smith, 
president, in the chair. New auxiliaries, twelve; two 
of which are beyond the limits of the United States, in 
the province of Texas. A great number of branch asso- 
ciations have also been formed. Many books had been 
imported for emigrants, in the Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, 
Spanish, and Polish languages. Bibles issued, 47,703; 
Testaments, 75,523 ; together, 123 ; 236 in eleven lan- 
guages, being an increase of 12,404 over the issues of the 
last year ; and an aggregate, since the formation of the 
society, of 1,767,736 copies. Receipts, 100,808 dollars, 
being an increase upon the previous year of 12,205 
dollars ; and 31,020 dollars were contributed for foreign 
distribution. This society has granted 1000 dollars to 
be expended in Bibles for the benefit of the blind, who 
learn to read it by feeling the letters, which are raised 
for that purpose. It was resolved, " That the friends of 
the Bible throughout the country, of every religious de- 
nomination, be respectfully invited to co-operate in fur- 
nishing, as soon as practicable, a copy of the Bible or the 
New Testament to every child in the United States, 
under fifteen years of age, who is able to readi and is 
destitute of the sacred volume," 



NEW YORK. 97 

The seventeenth anniversary of the Presbyterian 
Education Society was held in the evening. Appropri- 
ations, amounting to 25,383 dollars, had been made to 
490 young men in eighty-five institutions of learning j 
34,551 dollars had been collected in churches. The last 
report stated that 10,722 dollars had been earned by 
367 young men in sixty-four institutions, and the same 
during this year. Appropriations had been made to a 
less amount than twice the sum of their earnings ; but 
the board felt no alarm at the exhausted state of their 
treasury. Conviction had gained ground upon the 
churches that the education of indigent and pious young 
men for the ministry is an indispensable branch of 
benevolent action ; and they are beginning strongly to 
feel, that unless a competent number of ministers can 
be educated, all the bold and energetic plans of home 
and foreign missions must be injured, and the work of 
the world's redemption materially retarded. The solemn 
and important pledge given on a previous occasion was 
renewed, " that no young man of suitable qualifications 
shall fail of entering the ministry for want of pecuniary 
aid." 

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
Missions had a public meeting on Friday morning. This 
society arose out of the zeal of some students for the 
ministry, who first suggested the measure of an associa- 
tion of ministers. The churches have patronized it to a 
great extent, and it seems an association which is daily 
growing in importance. 

In the evening, the City Temperance Society held its 

anniversary, Mr. Delavan in the chair. Many thousands 

of temperance tracts had been distributed in Europe, 

South America, and other parts of the world. The 

9* 



98 NEW YORK. 

increase of members during the year in the city, had 
been 20,913 ; and for three years, 50,284. More than 
500 coloured people had added their names. The me- 
chanics and tradesmen, who occupied the gallery on this 
occasion, manifested extreme interest in the proceedings. 
The cause is still rapidly progressing. 

The meeting of the Methodist Missionary Society in 
the chapel at Green-street, over which Bishop Hedding 
presided, was distinguished by a remarkably large con- 
tribution on the spot, of not less than 4000 dollars. Mr. 
John Seys, a missionary who had returned from Liberia, 
made a strong- appeal in behalf of Africa. He intro- 
duced a native African, who attempted to give an 
address. He exhibited also the skin of a monkey, 
which the Africans worship as a god. Mr. Wilson, a 
coloured man from Liberia, was ordained to the ministry. 
The society has appropriated 12,000 dollars to the Afri- 
can missiou. 

The Baptist Youth's Domestic Mission Society of 
New- York was to have held its annual meeting at 
Oliver-street Chapel, on Thursday evening ; but as the 
season was unpropitious, and the English delegates could 
not conveniently attend, it was deferred to Monday, the 
18th, on which occasion the crowd was immense, and 
the proceedings interesting. Besides ourselves, the 
Cherokee missionary and the native Cherokee were 
present. It appeared, from the treasurer's report, that 
2000 dollars, pledged by the society, were nearly raised. 
The corresponding secretary mentioned that the society 
had engaged to support six missionaries, appointed by 
the American Home Missionary Society. Their letters 
manifested their activity. One of them had travelled 
4000 miles, and preached 300 sermons^ 



NEW YORK. 99 

We attended nearly all the public meetings, as well 
from a feeling of interest as a sense of duty, and were 
often privileged to take a part in their proceedings. Our 
impression was, that we had never witnessed anniversary 
assemblies of greater, if of equal, effect; and the allusions 
we had occasion to make to the relative circumstances 
of America and England, which had for their object to 
unite them in heart to each other, were received with 
unequivocal indications of delight. Every assembly and 
every individual seemed to glow with intense emotion ; 
and a thrilling sensibility to the great objects of christian 
benevolence, pervaded all the classes and ramifications 
of society. During the progress of the proceedings, it 
appeared to us that the chairman's frequent interference 
to repress extraordinary manifestations of approval on the 
part of the audience, was injurious to the general effect ; 
but this idea might be owing to our English prejudices, 
for it evidently arose from an exalted sense of religion, 
and was in accordance with the usual decorum of the 
religious meetings of America. 

The anniversaries of the year were esteemed of a 
higher order and character than had ever been known, 
and were plainly indicative of the growth of religion 
itself. It ought not to be unrecorded, that meetings for 
solemn prayer were held at half-past five o'clock every 
morning. 



100 



CHAPTER V. 

STATEMENT RESPECTING THE ANNIVERSARY MEET- 
ING OF THE ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY AT NEW YORK. 

It has been intimated (page 92) that we declined 
attending the anniversary meeting of the Anti-Slavery 
Society held on the morning of Tuesday, May 12th, 
at New York. In compliance with the expectations of 
our own denomination, and that of other christian com- 
munities, we proceed to give a distinct, and we trust 
satisfactory explanation of the course we thought it right 
to adopt at this important crisis. 

Being desirous of obtaining information before pledg- 
ing ourselves to any particular proceeding, we returned 
no answer to invitations from Abolition and Coloniza- 
tion Societies. We had determined previously to the 
meeting at Richmond that we would on no account com- 
mit ourselves to any public discussions on slavery, till 
we had discharged our commission at the convention. 
All the information we received contributed each day to 
strengthen the conviction, that while we avowed our 
sentiments as abolitionists, and embraced every opportu- 
nity to plead for the slaves and coloured people, it would 
be wrong so to link ourselves with any society, as inevi 
tably to associate our mission with another agency, 
which was then exciting attention. The cause of uni- 
versal emancipation itself, so dear to our own hearts, no 
less than other great interests, which it was important to 



NEW YORK. 101 

subserve, dictated this determination. Americans are 
jealous of foreign interference ; of all foreigners who in- 
termeddle with their internal policy, they are most jeal- 
ous of the English, — and, on whatever points our coun- 
trymen have evinced a disposition to interfere, on none 
do they give so much offence as on that of slavery. 
Whether a British agency of any description to co- 
operate in public with American abolitionists, would 
have received the sanction of the majority of that body, 
if they had found an opportunity to give an opinion, is 
doubtful ; it is much more probable that, as Americans, 
they would feel greatly relieved by pursuing their course 
alone, and unencumbered by those who were constantly 
stigmatized as " foreign emissaries." 

It so happened that the abolition meeting first held 
after our arrival in the country, was by far the most 
important ; and as it was obvious that the course pur- 
sued by us there would decide the question of attending 
similar meetings at other places, we were the more anx- 
ious to do right. It is remarkable that the invitation to 
Dr. Cox made no allusion whatever to the character in 
which he appeared as a delegate from the Baptist 
Union, and that it made no mention of his colleague ; it 
was, in fact, couched in such terms as to render his 
reply, in his own name, and without reference to his 
public engagement, in the highest sense proper. Such 
was the violence of party feeling, that it would have 
been impossible to have taken any part in these pro- 
ceedings without being understood as concurring in 
measures, respecting which we entertained serious 
doubts, or else of specifying what we could not wholly 
approve ; and at the same time we must have assumed 
an attitude of hostility against other measures, which 



10 2 NEW YORK. 

we did not wholly disapprove. Our own denomination 
is known to be painfully divided in reference to the 
society, and very few of its influential members in Ame- 
rica, belong to the baptist body. This might have been 
fairly taken into the account by those who have gratui- 
tously indulged in ill-founded censures. 

Having despatched his brief answer, Dr. Cox, at the 
request of Dr. Milnor, attended another meeting, that 
of the Deaf and Dumb Institution, whose anniver- 
sary was held at the same hour. His colleague was 
left to pursue his original intention of being present 
both at the abolition and colonization anniversaries. 
From these introductory remarks we proceed to sepa- 
rate narratives. 

Dr. Hoby's statement. — I did not reach the church 
till some progress had been made in the business ; and 
not wishing to advance to the platform, took a seat in 
the gallery among the coloured people, partly with a 
view of observing what degree of interest they took in 
the proceedings. I heard only righteous, manly, and 
benevolent sentiments, with the exception of a few ex- 
pressions to which the description only of rhetorical 
flourish need be given, but which unhappily, afford a 
ground of attack from opponents which no Judicious 
advocate should give. Thus the Christianity of the 
south was denounced asa" whip-platting, chain-forg- 
ing, child-stealing, marriage-discouraging, poor-robbing, 
Bible-withholding Christianity," and the missionary so- 
cieties of America were reprobated as " branded with 
the black mark of hypocrisy on their front." Mr. 
Thompson commenced his speech with a reference to 
the disappointment he felt at the absence of Dr. Cox, 
in temperate language, and such as could not give 



NEW YORK. 103 

offence ; but he ought also to have read the short letter, 
which was omitted. At the close of his address, he re- 
sumed, in a very different strain and spirit, the lan- 
guage of denunciation ; and though he chiefly referred 
to Dr. Cox, by speaking in the plural number of the 
delegates, he included both when he said they were 
" men of whom their brethren and country ought to be 
ashamed, whom he blushed to own as countrymen, and 
who, as recreant to their principles, and acting under 
the influence of disgraceful motives, were unfaithful re- 
presentatives, and would be scorned on their return." 
These words, or words of similar import, are not given in 
the printed reports of the speeches, which differ much from 
one another ; but enough is given with the direct sanc- 
tion of the society to justify the interruption occasioned 
by my advancing to the front of the gallery, and, apolo- 
gizing for such interference, requesting Mr. Thompson 
to forego all such censure as both unjustifiable and in- 
jurious.* Some confusion and clamour naturally arose 

* The closing part of Mr. T.'s speech, as it appears in the 
corrected report published by the society, is as follows:—" Two 
of his countrymen had been deputed to visit this country, one 
of them a member of the committee of the British and Foreign 
Society for the Extinction of Slavery and the Slave Trade 
throughout the world, and belonging to a christian denomina- 
tion which had actually memorialized all their sister churches 
in this land on this subject. My heart leaped when I learned 
that they were to be here ; especially that one of them whose 
name stood before the blank which is to be left in the record of 
this day's proceeding. Where is he now? He is in this city. 
Why is he not here? The reason I shall leave for himself to 
explain. Sir, (said Mr. T.) in this very fact, I behold a new 
proof of the power, of the omnipotence of slavery: by its tor- 
pedo power a man has been struck dumb, who was eloquent in 



104 NEW YORK. 

— I proceeded to say, " For my own part, I have never 
been invited to this meeting, and my colleague has sent 
a reply which ought to be read, and which will appear 
in the papers. Dr. Cox is not the man to flinch from 
what his principles and duty dictate, as has been repre- 
sented — he would not say in one country and under 
circumstances there existing, what, upon a subject like 
this, he would hesitate to assert in another country, and 
under other circumstances. We entertain the same 
views and feelings as yourselves relative to slavery ; but 
we have entrusted to us a specific mission, and acting 
in the fear of God, and we trust with purity of motive, 
it is our desire not to compromise other interests in refer- 
ence to which we are deputed. We have prescribed to 
ourselves a course, according to the best dictates of our 
own judgment, and ought to be allowed to pursue that 
course without being assailed by attacks calculated to 
injure us in the engagements we have in view." Fur- 
ther detail is unnecessary ; but after the meeting was 

England on the side of its open opposers. What ! is it come 
to this ? Shall he or shall I advocate the cause of emancipation, 
of immediate emancipation, only because we are Englishmen'? 
Perish the thought ! before I can entertain such an idea I must 
be recreant to all the principles of the Bible, to all the claims of 
truth, of honour, of humanity. No, sir: if a man is not the 
same in every latitude; if he would advocate a cause with elo- 
quence and ardour in Exeter Hall in the midst of admiring 
thousands, but because he is in America can close his lips and 
desert the cause he once espoused, I denounce, I abjure him as 
a coadjutor in the cause in which I am engaged. Let him 
carry his philanthropy home again; there let him display it 
in the loftiest or the tenderest strains ; but never let him step his 
foot abroad, until he is prepared to show to the world that he 
is the friend of his kind o( every country." 



NEW YORK. 105 

dissolved, I went on the platform, was introduced to the 
gentlemen present, and more fully discussed the sub- 
ject. 

At a meeting held the following day, we both attend- 
ed, for the purpose of conference with Mr. Thompson 
and his friends, on what appeared to ourselves to be a 
very unwarrantable attack. Dr. Cox entered the 
church, and heard Mr. Thompson ; but as there ap- 
peared a great disposition to disturb, on the part of seve- 
ral persons in the entrance, I attempted a justification 
of movements to bring about emancipation, and induced 
several to enter the meeting and hear attentively, while 
others quietly departed. At the close of his address, 
Mr. Thompson came to confer with us for a few mi- 
nutes, and appointed the same afternoon for an inter- 
view. Accompanied by Mr. Tappan and others, he 
called shortly before the hour of meeting of the Coloni- 
zation Society. After much conversation, we expressed 
our intention to go to the colonization meeting, when 
Messrs. Thompson and Tappan said they were also 
going. Dr. Cox walked with those gentlemen discuss- 
ing the subject ; but I preceded them a few minutes, 
from an apprehension that it would be difficult to obtain 
admittance. Aware that Mr. Thompson had laid him- 
self open to remark, and that in all probability some 
use might be made of it, by which our names might 
be introduced as if favouring the Colonization as op- 
posed to the Abolition Society , I determined, should 
there be occasion for it, again to interrupt a public 
meeting, by requesting that we might be permitted 
quietly to pursue our own prescribed course. The op- 
portunity presented itself, by one of the speakers com- 
mencing some severe reflections on the intemperate and 

10 



106 NEW YORK. 

unjust attack made upon Dr. Cox ; when I said, " If I 
may be pardoned for taking so great a liberty, I beg 
leave respectfully to request that as my colleague and 
myself have deemed it right, whatever our private opi- 
nions may be, to take no public part in these agitating 
discussions which are creating so much division among 
christians, we may be permitted to pursue our course 
without being made the subjects of remark on occasions 
like these." It was maintained that the attack was un- 
warrantable, and the speaker added, " We know you 
are abolitionists, but although Mr. Thompson is your 
countryman, we cannot cod sent that you should throw 
your aegis round him ; yet, in compliance with the 
request, and out of respect to your feelings, I will waive 
further remark." 

It may be proper to add, that subsequently we met a 
large party of the friends of abolition, at the house of 
one of the leading members of the committee, with 
whom every topic was fully discussed, and in the most 
friendly spirit. Mr. Thompson was present. Dr. Cox 
concluded the evening in prayer, and we left the party 
in company with Mr. Birnie. At this interview, Mr. 
Thompson clearly intimated, that my opinion in favour 
of compensation, not as proposed in Britain, but on loss 
being actually proved to be sustained by a change 
of legislation, and, also in favour of forming a black 
republic on the slave coast of Africa^ apart from all 
that is objectionable in the American Colonization So- 
ciety, were the reasons why, as he said to me. ' we did 
not want you." To this it could only be replied. " then 
why include me in the censure 1 " Mr. Thompson was 
aware, before he left England, that these were the 
views I entertained, and it is to be regretted that such 



NEW YORK. 107 

opinions are never admitted in the discussions of Ame- 
rican abolitionists. 

Dr. Cox's statement. — During my progress from 
Richmond to New York, I had ample opportunities of 
discussing the merits of the Anti-Slavery and Coloniza- 
tion Societies, and of ascertaining from themselves the 
feelings of many of the leading members. On board 
the steam-boat, I was ; for the first time, informed that I 
had been advertised as the mover of a resolution in the 
anticipated anniversary of the Anti-slavery Society. 
This I found was done upon the ground that "si- 
lence gives consent ; " the committee having request- 
ed me, by a letter brought to Richmond, to appear on 
that occasion. I blame no one for this interpretation, 
as it was not unnatural to presume upon my co-opera- 
tion, especially when some who knew me in England, 
calculating upon my avowed principles and my position 
there, ventured, on their own responsibility, to assure 
them of my attendance. The reason however, of that 
silence was chiefly an indeterminate state of mind 
upon the question of appearing at the anti- slavery an- 
niversary ; and this suspense arose from perceiving, 
even at that early period of my visit, some of the diffi- 
culties which were likely to perplex my course, what- 
ever determination might be formed, as well as from a 
desire to acquaint myself more fully with the state of 
conflicting parties, and the various bearings of the sub- 
ject upon the internal circumstances of the new coun- 
try to which I had come. 

Upon my arrival in New York, almost my whole 
time was absorbed by an influx of gentlemen represent- 
ing the sentiments of adverse parties. In the afternoon 
of Monday, the day previous to the public meeting, and 



108 NEW YORK. 

the day of my arrival in the city, ten gentlemen, deput- 
ed by the Anti-Slavery Association of Delegates, did 
me the honour of a call to request my attendance on 
the morrow, at the anniversary of their society. Of 
these Mr. Thompson was one. The proposal involved 
considerable discussion. The result was, an agreement 
on the part of this deputation, that three of their num- 
ber, as representatives of the rest, and as the medium 
of communication to the general committee, should 
revisit me on the ensuing morning before the public 
meeting, to receive my answer to their request. That 
answer was read by my colleague, and given with his 
full concurrence, though no reference had been made to 
him in the invitation. It was as follows : — 

May 12, 1835. 

" Gentlemen, 
" If I decline the honour of appearing on your plat- 
form this day, on occasion of your anniversary meeting, 
I must be understood to assume a position of neutrality, 
not with regard to those great principles and objects 
which it is id ell known Britain in general, and our 
denomination in particular, have maintained and 
promoted, but with regard solely to the political bear- 
ings of the question, with which, as a stranger, a fo- 
reigner, a visitor, I could not attempt to intermeddle. I 
am, gentlemen, yours respectfully, 

" F. A. Cox." 

What became of this communication ? It was put 
into the pocket of one of the gentlemen who waited 
upon me, and never saw the light till it was produced 
in the closed doors of the committee room, after all the 



NEW YORK. 109 

public proceedings had ended. Here I have to com- 
plain heavily of an unfair concealment. These gentle- 
men had requested my attendance at the meeting, or 
my reasons for non-attendance. I gave them a brief 
and courteous reply, which, in the circumstances, was 
necessarily a reply to the inquiring public through 
their medium; for I had been advertised to take 
part in the proceedings, — the newspapers on both 
sides had canvassed the question, and published my 
former speeches,— and my official as well as personal 
character, together with the proceedings at Richmond, 
had invested me with a notoriety which rendered the 
application in question of the nature of a public trans- 
action. When Mr. Thompson came forward with his 
unmeasured vituperations, and said, " I leave him to 
explain himself," my note remained still unread ; — he 
was suffered to denounce and abjure, till he was inter- 
rupted by my colleague, and by the mingled hissings 
and plaudits of the meeting ; but my note remained 
still in concealment'. My excellent friend the Rev. 
Baron Stow had said, " I am requested to occupy the 
place of another, who was expected to take part in 
these exercises, and of whose efficiency the highest ex- 
pectations were rationally formed. Deprived as we are 
of his aid, I cannot consent to occupy his place, but 
propose the space to be left, as he has left it, blank." 
But neither then, nor at any time, was that note pro- 
duced which was written for the very purpose of being 
read, and as at least within the briefest compass, an 
attempted justification of mysterious absence. I hold 
Mr. Stow guiltless of all discourtesy, because he has 
disclaimed it both in private and public communications, 
and because especially in the latter it is evident the 
10* 



110 NEW YORK!. 

note was at the time concealed from him, for he says, 
" after my arrival at the place where the anniversary 
was to be held, the chairman of the committee of 
arrangements informed me that Dr. Cox had declined 
appearing on the platform." 

The accusatory language of Mr. Thompson, and 
that of many in England not acquainted with the facts, 
who at present sympathize with him as their agent, 
seems to require some statement on my part, which, 
however, I should be almost disposed to deem unneces- 
sary, were it not that the body who reposed in me their 
confidence, as well as the public who have been loudly 
appealed to on the subject, must be held entitled to at 
least a brief explanation. 

Let it be observed, that in my note to the committee 
of the American Anti-Slavery Society, I distinctly 
guarded against the supposition that I had in any de- 
gree abandoned my anti-slavery principles ; the neu- 
trality affirmed relating solely to the " political bearings" 
of the question. It was impossible not to perceive that 
three parties were equally eager on the subject, the Anti- 
Slavery society, their opponents and the colonizational- 
ists. Even in the very heat of the affair. Mr. Stow, an 
active member of the anti-slavery committee, publicly 
declares in his letter in the newspapers; that at the time 
" he viewed me as placed in a very delicate and difficult 
position." 

The slave question is doubtless one of humanity and 
religion ; but it is also one of internal policy, relating to 
the civil administration of the country. It is a question 
between independent states and the federal government, 
and has no inconsiderable relation to the elections of 
congress. Reasoning from the power of our own con- 



NEW YORK. Ill 

solidated government, we are apt to infer, that it is only 
for the congress of the United States to speak the word, 
and the enslaved will be free. This is not the case. 
Congress has no more authority to dissolve the relation 
between the master and his slave, in the different states, 
than it has to prohibit Great Britain, by law, from im- 
pressing or flogging her seamen. Shielded by the con- 
stitution, each state is sovereign and independent, ad- 
mitting of no dictation or control by congress, either in 
civil or criminal matters. The laws of congress have 
reference to general relations — the protection of com- 
merce — offences committed on the high seas, and inter- 
course with other nations. No law of congress could 
touch even a murderer, who must be condemned or 
acquitted by the law of the state in which the offence 
was committed. Public proceedings, on our part, would, 
therefore, have entangled us with the politics of the 
country. 

My colleague and I were not pledged by and express- 
ed or understood engagement to attend the anniversary 
of the Anti Slavery Society. The document with which 
we were entrusted, and by which we were sent to Ame- 
rica, abstained from all allusion to the subject of slavery, 
expressly that we might go unfettered, and act accord- 
ing to our judgment in any emergency. The wishes 
of our own hearts were indeed well known as to the 
general question, but the necessity or propriety of attend- 
ing this or that particular meeting could not, and 
was never attempted to be decided at the distance of 
3000 miles, and in total ignorance of existing circum- 
stances. 

My anti-slavery sentiments were not only fully 
known, but at the time extensively circulated by the 



112 NEW YORK. 

citation in the newspapers of a speech I had made in 
London, and when I was myself in the chair. I have 
besides already adverted to the terms of my public note, 
which of itself was calculated to remove any incipient 
suspicion of altered opinions. 

Mr. Thompson was to America a foreigner, and to 
me comparatively a stranger. With his public career I 
was in some degree acquainted, but in the sanction of 
his appointment I had no concern. He and others have 
widely circulated that I was a member of the very com- 
mittee that sent him on his mission ; but I had never- 
theless no other participation in the deed, than that 
which is involved in the mere responsibility of member- 
ship ; for I was at none of the meetings when this mis- 
sion was planned, or the agent deputed. As a foreigner, 
his embassy was peculiarly unacceptable to the Ameri- 
can public ; nor is such a jealousy unnatural, when the 
events of sixty years are recalled to mind. If the case 
had even been stronger — if I, in the character of a men> 
ber of the committee in England, had been directly 
concerned in that measure, but had found by examina- 
tion on the spot that a mistake had been committed, 
either with regard to the method or the man, I was 
surely not bound to sanction and perpetuate what I 
might have perceived, though at a late hour, to be inapt 
or injudicious. 

Will it be contended that I was under an obligation 
to identify myself with an individual, who scrupled not 
to employ the language of fierce invective — and invec- 
tive against whom? not merely against slave holders — 
against your driving, lashing, sanguinary oppressors, 
but against men of elevated christian character, zealous 
in, promoting every good work, whose names will be 



I 



NEW YORK. 113 

immortalized when those of their calumniators will be 
extinct. I mean to separate the English anti-slavery 
agent from the American anti-slavery committee and 
society, amongst whom are individuals of the best cha- 
racter, and of exalted piet}', and I do so for two reasons : 
first, that they are amenable for their actions only to 
their own country, and have a right to act politically in 
the character of American citizens ; and, secondly, be- 
cause I was particularly distinguished in Mr. Thomp- 
son's vituperative anti-slavery speech at the anniversary. 
I may be reminded, perhaps, that the neutrality I as- 
sumed respected the political bearings only of the ques- 
tion, and that I might have reserved this point, and 
adverted to its other relations. But every considerate 
person, who reflects upon the frenzied agitation of the 
moment, must perceive, that by appearing on the plat- 
form at New York, I must have committed myself to 
the whole subject. A speech, containing any censure 
of the conduct or language of the leading advocate, 
would surely have been more — inconceivably more de- 
trimental than mere absence, even supposing it possi- 
ble, in discussing the moral and religious bearings of the 
subject, to have avoided the political. The object of Mr. 
Thompson, was to obtain my sanction to his proceed- 
ings; and, in one word, I could not give it. At 
the house of my namesake, the respectable physician in 
New York, Mr. Thompson reasserted that the religion 
of the north could only be regarded as hypocrisy and 
deception, while they continued to refuse co-operation in 
the anti-slavery proceedings. I referred to men of the 
highest excellence, of all the denominations, with many 
of whom I had become acquainted, and to the possibility 
of many reasons existing, why exactly our views or 



114 NEW YORK. 

measures might not be concurred in. He persisted in 
his declaration. I speak now, not of any printed modi- 
fication, but of a definite statement made to myself, with- 
out choosing to report stronger affirmations, as reported 
to me by others. I need take no pains to analyse and 
refute such a representation. Mr. Thompson, since his 
return to England, in his very first speech, declares, 
" America is a wicked nation." This is not a whit the 
less objectionable, because it was imbedded in soft and 
silken eulogiums. It is a kind of generalization which 
commits a cause, and can answer no end but that of 
provocation. If some of the states of the confederacy 
deserve reproach or need instruction, let not all be de- 
nounced to the whole civilized world, because they do 
not unite in the mode of attacking a great evil, which a 
few have adopted. 

It may be inquired, How are the slave-holding states 
ever to be made free 1 I answer, by each state acting 
for itself, and each separate legislature being brought to 
act in its own independent character and in consistence 
with the federal constitution. Three at least of these 
states are tending to emancipation, and all, even of the 
worst, were, by some of their leading magistrates, pur- 
suing a course eminently useful to the slaves, and adopt- 
ed to the final issue of emancipation. Exasperating 
measures, and the language of invective have checked 
and thrown back the cause, though I hope and believe, 
each state will successively emancipate her slaves, in 
spite of every obstacle. An anti-slavery agent from this 
country might have pursued a course which would have 
been wise, and must have been beneficial, which would 
have tended to unite the good of all classes and parties, 
which would have been honourable to Britain, and feli- 



NEW YORK. 115 

citous for America. That course has unhappily not 
been pursued — not, I mean, by the anti-slavery agent. 

The paramount object of our mission was to effect a 
fraternal alliance with our American brethren ; but those 
who commissioned us knew perfectly well that they 
were largely implicated in slave-holding. Ardently as 
they desired and as we desired to accomplish something 
in a cause, important to the welfare of nations and the 
interests of religion, yet the committee could not be 
guilty of the folly of sending us across the Atlantic, 
first to ask their friendship, and then to aid their dissen- 
sions. If our brethren in England had meant to say, 
We can have no fellowship with them because they are 
slave- holders, — then why seek it? 

After the convention of Richmond, I was placed in a 
position of increased delicacy and difficulty. It was felt 
on both sides that we had succeeded in forming a link of 
connexion between the bapist churches of America and 
England, and it was well understood, during that season 
of holy excitement, that we had not compromised or 
concealed our principles. Sound judgment as well as 
christian feeling would surely suggest, that a public step 
taken almost immediately after the general meeting, 
which would at once have the effect of embroiling a 
whole denomination of more than 6000 churches, 
should only be determined upon under the clearest con- 
viction of duty, and with the most evident probability of 
accomplishing the greatest good. Prudence at least 
suggested, that it would be important to ascertain 
whether the allowedly great and glorious cause of 
emancipation itself would by such a proceeding be 
ultimately promoted ; or whether we were not more 
likely to become the monuments of indiscretion and 



116 NEW YORK. 

objects of scorn amidst the distractions of a now united 
and prosperous denomination. I ask emphatically, had 
I appeared at the anti-slavery meeting in New York, 
should I, in the judgment of the considerate and the wise, 
have been doing good or evil ? Would the special pur- 
pose of our mission, a high, a holy, and a paramount 
one, have been accomplished or nullified? Would 
American and British christians have been united in 
holy fellowship or separated in mutual exasperation ? 
Would it have been acting in the spirit of martyrdom or 
in the spirit of madness ? — 

These statements. may be closed by introducing a few 
extracts of correspondence. They will tend to show, 
that the object of our mission was in some happy degree 
accomplished, and that the decision taken in reference 
to the anti slavery anniversary was not unappreciated 
by the wise and the good of America. 

From the Rev. Dr. Welch, of Albany. 

"August IS, 1835. 

"As in all probabilty I shall not be favoured with 
another interview previous to your leaving the country, 
I take the liberty of addressing you in a few lines, and I 
trust it will not be deemed improper or officious to ex- 
press the gratification received from your visit, and the 
general feeling of the salutary influence of your exam- 
ple and ministry, and that of your esteemed colleague. 
You will permit me to say, my dear brother, in the 
honest expression of sincere regard, that if you have de- 
rived pleasure at all commensurate with what you have 






NEW YORK. 11? 

imparted, the reminiscences of Albany will be numbered 
among the most pleasant of your recollections of Ame^ 
rica. The church, I am persuaded, has derived impor- 
tant benefits from your faithful labours ; and the delight- 
ful interchange of sentiment and feeling in social inter- 
course is yet remembered. Indeed, your visit has fur- 
nished us with the most convincing evidence that this 
reciprocal courtesy is eminently calculated to promote 
harmony of feeling and concert of action in our denom- 
ination on both sides of the water. 

" And now, my dear brother, I will advert to a subject 
upon which we frequently conversed, and which so pain- 
fully exercised your mind during your stay with us. I 
refer to the slave question. Among all that has been 
realized as beneficial in the tendencies of your mission to 
this country, there has been nothing in my judgment 
more salutary and important, than the influence of your 
discreet and prudent example upon this subject of all- 
absorbing and exciting interest throughout the land. 
You remarked the agitated state of the public mind, but 
the rapidity of your progress through the country 
afforded but little opportunity for ascertaining its extent 
and virulence. It is truly ' the vexed question ' of this 
country, embarrassing and afflictive in every point of 
view, and to an extent of which our brethren in Eng- 
land can form but a very imperfect idea — it is felt uni- 
versally to be a curse N to the country, deprecated and 
lamented in every part of the union ; there is not, I am 
pursuaded, a wise and good man in the states, who does 
not earnestly desire the emancipation of the shamefully- 
oppressed and long-degraded African. Our statesmen 
seek the means of wiping out this foul blot from our 
national escutcheon ; the wisdom of our legislators, and 

11 



118 NEW YORK. 

the pens of our scribes, and the prayers of our churches* 
and the ministry of our divines have long been directed 
to this subject, but it is still to us a question as difficult as 
it is distressing. It is not now with us a question 
whether a man may innocently hold property in his fel- 
low man ; whether slavery is a sin ; whether the inter- 
ests and happiness of the white man are in any way 
promoted by enslaving and oppressing the black — rea- 
son, religion, humanity, the intelligence of the people of 
this country with united voice have long since decided 
these questions ; and there is but one feeling, and one 
opinion among all who fear God, and love their coun- 
try, and entertain intelligent views of its true interests. 
That there may be those whom cupidity has rendered 
cruel, and whose perceptions upon this subject are ob- 
scured by selfishness and brutal ignorance, may be 
admitted without affecting the question, or impugning 
the intelligence or the moral sensibility of the people ; 
but they are comparatively very few, and their number 
is rapidly diminishing— the whole country, and more 
especially the southern states, as certainly groan under 
the pressure of their slave population, as the coloured 
man groans under his bondage. But the question is, 
what can be done to relieve both us and them ; how 
shall this acknowledged curse be removed ; how shall 
the sable race be reinstated in their rights, and the 
integrity of our government and of our constitution, the 
stability of our institutions, and the order, happiness ; 
and safety of the community be secured 1 You, my 
dear brother, have been able by the force of public sen- 
timent, and the voice of your legislature, to declare that 
slavery shall not exist within the boundaries of the Brit- 
ish empire ; but it will certainly require no argument to 






NEW YORK. '* 119 

convince you who have passed with an observing eye 
through the length and breadth of our land, that there 
is a vast difference between legislating with reference 
to this evil at a distance, separated from its horrors by 
the waters of the ocean, and grappling with it at home 
as it exists in this country, with all that is hateful in its 
influence at our own firesides, and in our own bosoms ! 
Nor is it requisite to prove to you that the wisdom and 
energy that were found adequate to the removal of the 
evil in the one case, would be found hopelessly inade- 
quate in the other. This, then, is with us the question, 
and obviously one of extreme difficulty and delicacy; 
what under all that is peculiar and paralyzing, formida- 
ble and distressing in the circumstances of the case, can 
be done for the relief of the slave, and of the country 1 
If England, when England understands the question 
with all the embarrassments that surround it, will prof-, 
fer us the aid of her counsels, it will be most cheerfully 
and gratefully received on this side the water ; but, 
until then, the unsolicited advice of some of her rash 
and mistaken orators only serves to increase our embar- 
rassments, and to generate and keep alive a feeling 
which it is obviously for the interest of both countries to 
suppress. Our citizens, as you must have discovered, 
especially at the south and west, are extremely sensi- 
tive upon this subject, and all the circumstances have 
clearly a tendency to superinduce this feeling upon them. 
In innumerable instances the moral sense is wounded by 
the consciousness that slavery is offensive to God, and in 
every instance by the conviction of its innumerable 
political evils which no human legislation can remedy. 
Sufficiently irritated by the free and sometimes intem- 
perate discussion of the subject by their own country^ 



120 NEW YORK. 

men at the north, it is not surprising they should 
resist with indignation all foreign interference, as ex- 
travagant and presumptuous. If, therefore, when for- 
eigners, who cannot or will not understand their circum- 
stancesy and appreciate their feelings, indulge in indis- 
criminate censure and violent denunciation, it is not 
wonderful that they should sometimes retort in the lan- 
guage of exasperated feeling, and unqualified reproba- 
tion. 

* # f * * * * * 

11 In this state of things, your own prudent course, 
my dear brother, has secured to you the approbation, 
and raised you high in the esteem of the wise and good 
of all parties ; and it has contributed not a little to this 
result, that your own courteous demeanour, and con-, 
sistent regard for the feelings and embarrassments of 
your American friends, stand forth in bold relief under 
the public eye as seen in contrast w T ith the egregious 
folly of your countryman. Your own faithful testi- 
mony against slavery, in all those circles of christian 
intercourse in which you mingled, while it had a happy 
influence in directing the mind to the subject, as a sin 
fraught with appalling consequences, was appreciated 
as of more weight and value, because temperately ex- 
pressed. Your refusal to enter upon the arena of public 
debate, upon a subject in the highest degree exciting to 
the community, in which you appeared in the high 
character of a teacher of righteousness, manifested a de- 
cision of character, and displayed a consistency of con- 
duct, worthy of your station as the representative of the 
English churches, and highly honourable to yourself 
and country in the view of every reflecting man. I am 
perfectly aware that you need not this expression of 



NEW YORK. 121 

opinion from me. Your own judgment and conscience 
are not only sufficient to determine your course in every 
difficult subject, but their approbation is fully adequate 
to render you impervious to the attacks either of the 
malevolent or mistaken zealot. Moreover, the press in 
this country has spoken unequivocally, and almost uni- 
versally, in terms of decided and unqualified approba- 
tion of your conduct ; and it must be consolatory to you 
to know, as you return across the waters, that you bear 
with you the esteem and regard of the wise and good 
so explicitly and frequently expressed. But the Ame- 
rican church is deeply indebted to you, and I feel myself 
under personal obligations, as identified in all my inter- 
ests and relations, labours and hopes, with that part of 
the Zion of God to which we are mutually related : had 
you adopted a different course, the consequences must 
have been most unhappy to the church. Public opinion 
is in this country omnipotent, and the cause of religion, 
in common with all others, materially affected for good 
or injury by the opinion and conduct, by the consistency 
or inconsistency, of its public advocates. Whatever may 
be the results of your course upon your own interests, it 
has been most beneficial upon the interests of Zion, and 
has been eminently calculated to reflect honour upon our 
denomination. So well convinced am I of this fact, 
that I hesitate not to say that of so much importance is 
the influence you have thus exerted, that, aside from 
every other good, it is worth all the expense and labour 
of your mission to America. — I am, your brother in a 
gracious Saviour, 

"B. T. Welch." 



ir 



122 NEW YORK, 

From the Rev. Dr. Sprague, Albany. 

Dec. 3, 1835. 

Being a resident minister at the same place with 
Dr. Welsh, of another denomination, and well known 
and highly estimated in England. I will here introduce 
a very brief extract from the postscript of a letter I had 
the pleasure of lately receiving from him. It may justly 
be regarded as speaking the sentiments of the great 
body of presbyterian and congregational ministers. 

" P.S. As I have not heard from you since you 
reached home, I of course know nothing of the effect 
produced by the course you took on the subject of 
slavery ; but / cannot doubt that it loill meet the ap- 
probation of every enlightened and judicious rnan^ 
* * * (Here I omit some personal references.) " Of 
all the individuals I have ever heard speak of the course 
you took at New York " (N. B, This is written more 
than six months after the meeting,) u there has been 
but one who has not most decidedly approved it, and he 
one of George Thompson's most intimate friends. I 
hope you will be able to satisfy our English brethren 
that the American christians are not the friends of 
slavery ; but that the great mass of our whole com- 
munity at the north regards it as a deadly scourge, and 
earnestly desires that the country may be freed from 
it." 






NEW YORK. 123 

From the Rev. Dr. Sharp, of Boston. 

September 4, 1835. 

<{ And now, my dear and highly respected brother, I 
rejoice in the knowledge that your presence at our Tri- 
ennial Convention, your private interviews, and public 
labours, have had all the delightful effects which our 
most sanguine hopes had anticipated. Your prudence 
in not intermeddling with topics of a secular and politi- 
cal character, when strongly urged to do so, has won 
for you the esteem of the most learned, upright, philan- 
thropic, and pious men of every Christian denomination 
in the land. I do not express myself thus as a matter 
of opinion, or from vague report, but from assurances 
made to me personally, incidentally and purposely, by 
gentlemen whom I have seen and conversed with in 
eight different states, by gentlemen who hold distin- 
guished civil offices, and by gentlemen who would be 
esteemed honourable and valued members of any church 
in Christendom. Such visits, so conducted, the Ameri- 
can baptist churches will ever hail with joy, and I trust 
will ever be ready to reciprocate.— Ever and most affec- 
tionately yours, 

"Daniel Sharp." 

From a letter addressed to the Rev. W. H. Murch. 

" Boston, September 3, 1835. 

"Brethren Cox and Hoby have now been with us 
some time, loved and welcomed wherever they go, and 
I have no doubt eminently useful in a variety of ways,. 



124 NEW YORK. 

* Their position and movements in 
regard to the much vexed question of slavery has been 
truly dignified and fortunate. 

"Howard Malcom." 

To the preceding I feel it unnecessary to subjoin 
more than a short extract from a letter written by the 
Rev. S. H. Cone of New York, the president of the 
Triennial Convention. While others addressed to my- 
self might have been introduced, I prefer inserting this, 
which occurs in a communication to the Rev. John 
Dyer. 

"The course they (Drs. Cox and Hoby) have pur- 
sued while in this country, in reference to the abolition 
question, was not only dictated by sound discretion, but 
was in perfect accordance with the views of the Baptist 
General Convention, to which body they came as dele- 
gates. Any other course would have completely de- 
feated the object of their visit to the American churches, 
and would have involved them in constant personal 
embarrassment. Did Englishmen know that the ques- 
tion, as now presented, is equivalent to the question — 
{ shall the Union be dissolved ? ' they would see that 
foreigners could not safely enter upon its discussion." 
Sept. 30, 1835. 



125 



CHAPTER VI. 

JOURNEY THROUGH NEW HAVEN AND NEW BEDFORD 
TO BOSTON. — PUBLIC MEETINGS. 

The variety and pressure of our public engagements 
at New York compelled us to defer inquiries respecting 
our numerous churches there to a future opportunity, 
The same prevention occurred during the following 
business week at Boston. But the account of the reli-. 
gious state of both these cities will be found in the pro- 
per place in our return visits. 

We went in the steam-boat to New Haven, on Tues- 
day, May 19th, accompanied by our valued young 
friend, Mr. R. Fellowes, who had been a student at 
Yale College. His familiarity with the town and 
neighbourhood greatly facilitated our visits to objects of 
interest. The approach to New Haven from the Sound 
is attractive and imposing, owing alike to the beauty of 
the city itself and the lofty hills which constitute the 
back-ground of the picture. The streets and the square 
are shaded by numerous elm trees, whose drooping 
forms impart an air of pensive repose to the city. The 
whole is in harmony with the university buildings,, 
which have rather a sombre and melancholy aspect. 
These edifices occupy one side of a spacious square, the 
centre of which is the site of the state-house and of four 
churches. Dr. Taylor accompanied us to the library , 
museum, and gallery, which are worthy of this ancient. 



126 NEW HAVEN. 

seat of learning. The students were dispersed for the 
vacation. We visited the romantic scenery in the 
neighbourhood, particularly the " dens and caves of the 
earth," whither the vengeance of the second Charles 
would have pursued the judges who had doomed his 
father to death. Here, however, GofTe and Whalley 
were effectually concealed, and their portentous inscrip- 
tion, traced in the face of the rock is still legible — 
" Opposition to tyrants is obedience to God." The 
graves of these judges are pointed out in the great square 
near one of the churches. It is not at present used as a 
place of sepulture, another space having been allotted to 
this purpose, which is a plain and neat cemetery, with 
many good monuments, though none are magnificent. 
In laying out and planting the ground there is a total 
absence of every attempt at the ornamental. 

We passed an agreeable evening with Mr. Neale, 
pastor of a very flourishing baptist church of 230 mem- 
bers. From a previously low state, this congregation 
has so improved since his settlement, that it had become 
necessary to make a great enlargement of the place of 
worship. Many of the coloured church, together with 
the pastor of it, are baptists. 

In proceeding to Hartford, our pleasure was greatly 
enhanced by the company of Dr. Taylor and the Rev. 
L. Bacon, pastor of the congregational church. The 
conversation turned upon revivals in colleges, and our 
enlightened and distinguished fellow-travellers detailed 
many particulars of one which had recently occurred at 
New Haven. During the winter the number of acade- 
mical students communing with the college church had 
been about 160. A few of these, from the commencement 
of the winter term, had been so deeply impressed with 



new Haven. 127 

the necessity of the Spirit's influence, to deliver from 
the prevalent security in sin^ and to renew the heart to 
repentance, that they continued to meet and pray during 
the term, though they saw no indications of special 
religious impression upon the body of the students. 
Near the beginning of the spring term, they commenced 
stated meetings for prayer every evening. The number 
of those who attended, was at first from fifteen to twenty ; 
but afterwards increased to 150. In the early part of 
March a meeting of the whole church was held to offer 
united supplications for the influences of the Spirit on the 
college. This was soon followed by a course of frequent 
preaching in addition to the stated ministrations of the 
Sabbath. A general solemnity pervaded the institution. 
Numbers were impressed with a conviction of guilt ; and 
of these sixty or more had expressed a hope that they 
had cordially embraced the salvation of the gospel. A 
solemn attention to the great interests of religion still 
continued. 

The means used during the revival were, frequent 
and fervent prayer in the public assembly, in meetings 
of the church, and in various smaller circles ; preaching 
specially adapted to the occasions, religious conversation, 
and meetings called for the purpose of addressing those 
whose attention was more or less awakened to the con- 
cerns of the soul. Though the religious interest had been 
deep and general, there had been no derangement of the 
regular order and literary exercises of the college. 

Thus, the revival, under God, appeared evidently to 
be the result of persevering prayer, and an unwearied 
effort on the part of the fifteen or twenty students, who 
had "agreed as touching the thing they would ask." 
Under many discouragements they went forward, and 



128 MIDDLETOWN. — HARTFORD. 

the blessing came down upon the impenitent. In the 
progress of the work) the total depravity of man and his 
entire dependance on God for salvation, were the great 
topics of discourse. 

The number of students in the theological department 
of Yale College was between fifty and sixty. They all 
manifested a deep interest in the revival by their prayers 
and active labours. As there has heretofore been no 
provision to furnish them with convenient rooms for 
lodging and study, the christian community have lately 
contributed 8,000 dollars to erect a building for their 
accommodation, the foundation of which is already laid. 

It was with difficulty we could continue our route 
without pausing at Middletown, where we saw the Rev. 
Mr. Cookson, the pastor of a prosperous church of nearly 
300 members. There are three baptist churches in the 
town, which contains 6 ; 000 or 7,000 inhabitants, and is 
beautifully situated in the bosom of a vale on the banks 
of the Connecticut. 

We passed an agreeable evening at Hartford, but as a 
better opportunity will hereafter occur, refrain at present 
from giving particulars either here or at Providence, 
which we transiently visited, where we were most cor- 
dially welcomed by Dr. Wayland, president of Brown 
University. 

We had agreed to spend the ensuing Sabbath with 
Mr. Choules, at New-Bedford, in Rhode-Island, who is 
well known as the author of " The Origin and History 
of Missions." and is the pastor of a flourishing church of 
more than 300 members. We divided our services 
between the churches of Mr. Choules and the congrega- 
tional brethren. All the places of worship are spacious ; 
the attention to religion encouraging, and, from the 



NEW BEDFORD. — BOSTON. 129 

extent of the general population, the prospect of minis- 
terial usefulness considerable. At no distant period 
they have, to use an American phrase, " experienced a 
revival." It was described as a season of hallowed 
excitement, and distinguished by tokens of divine favour. 
General society assumed a new aspect; :; the word of the 
Lord grew and multiplied;" sinners were converted 
and christians reanimated. The descending grace was 
apparent, and if it passed away as a copious shower, it 
left behind a most refreshing influence. 

Our friend Mr. Choules related to us the following 
transaction, which occurred in 1834. He was applied to 
by the Right Rev. Dr. Griswold, bishop of the eastern 
diocese of the protestant episcopal church in the United 
States, for the use of his church and baptistry. This 
was readily granted, and he with multitudes who crowd- 
ed to the service, beheld the venerable bishop baptize by 
immersion Mr. Briggs, principal of the Fairhaven aca- 
demy. In America, where immersion is so prevalent 
and increasing a practice, and that even among different 
denominations, this circumstance was less calculated to 
excite astonishment than it would have dene in England ; 
it nevertheless attracted great attention, and was regard- 
ed by reflecting men as a fine exhibition of primitive 
Christianity. 

Hastening from New-Bedford to Boston, we imme- 
diately repaired, according to previous agreement, to the 
house of Dr. Sharp, whose kind insistance left no alter- 
native. In truth, it is not always the lot of mortals in 
this scene of vicissitude and moral desolation to find, 
as we did there, individual intelligence and undissembled 
piety presiding at the domestic hearth, and blending 
delightfully with the manifest tokens, to ourselves, of a 
pure and permanent friendship. 
12 



130 BOSTON, 

The gratification we felt in attending the various 
religious meetings at Boston, was not less intense than 
that of which we were daily conscious at New- York. 
Without, however, minute specification and detail, we 
shall content ourselves with stating, in general, the joyful 
readiness with which we attended the different societies 
of whatever denomination, and with subjoining a few 
notices of some of those with which w T e were in more 
immediate association. 

The nineteenth anniversary of the American Educa- 
tion Society was held almost immediately after our arrival 
in the city, in the proceedings of which w T e readily took 
apart. To educate pious young men for the gospel 
ministry, is the object of this truly national institution. 
It extends its aid to persons of all denominations, and 
supports its beneficiaries at academies, colleges, and 
theological seminaries, connected with different sections 
of the church. By means of its numerous branches, it 
has extraordinary facilities for accumulating information, 
which, by the zealous and devoted labours of Dr. Cogs- 
well, the secretary, is arranged in the most lucid manner 
in their reports. 

The society has assisted in the education of 700, 
who have already entered the ministry. It has made 
appropriations to young men of every state in the Union 
— and during the last year, aided 1040 students, who 
were scattered among 152 institutions. Of these, 300 
were received during the year ; a larger number than had 
ever before been admitted in the same time. The stand- 
ing rules of the society, are, to advance the least amount 
of support consistent with health and a thorough educa- 
tion—to require suitable efforts on the part of those 
patronized to assist themselves, and to obtain aid from 
other funds and friends — and to stimulate all wha 






BOSTON. 131 

become competent to the discharge, by repayment, of 
the loans advanced to them. By this latter course, the 
funds had been replenished by nearly $3000 during- 
the year, from fifty beneficiaries. 

Nothing but want of space prevents the insertion 
of important particulars of the American Temperance 
Society, the Massachusetts Sunday School Union, and 
many others, which require no panegyric from the pass- 
ing stranger, and whose praise is in all the churches. 

The Massachusetts Conference of Baptist Ministers 
met at the Federal-street church, on the 26th, the presi- 
dent, the Rev. Dr. Sharp, in the chair. 

The delegation from ministers in England to the 
General Convention of Baptists in America, being pre- 
sent, were introduced by the president. 

On the motion of the Rev. Dr. Bolles, it was resolved, 
" That we greet with pleasure the arrival of our brethren 
from England, as a cheering indication of the union 
existing between English and American christians, and 
that we cordially welcome them to our country, and to 
a participation in the deliberations of this body." 

The annual essay was then read by the president. Its 
topic was, " the importance of practical wisdom to the 
minister of the gospel." It has since been printed. 

The importance of a new quarterly publication was 
then discussed, and a strong expression of opinion in 
favour of its establishment was given. A committee 
was appointed to make all necessary arrangements for 
its being issued, and to secure the services of the Rev. 
Prof. Knowles in the editorship. We took a part in 
these discussions, and afterwards engaged in conference 
with a select committee for the purpose of ascertaining 
whether it were practicable to combine the efforts of the 



132 BOSTON. 

denomination in England and America for this object. 
Since our return, we have received a communication 
from Prof. Knowles, which announces the work as 
begun, under the name of "The Christian Review." 
$5000 have been subscribed as a fund. We subjoin 
the prospectus.* 

* "Prospectus. — Gould, Kendall, and Lincoln propose to 
publish a new periodical work, to be called ' The Christian 
Review.' Edited by Professor James D. Knowles. The object 
of the Christian Review will be, to. promote the interests of 
religion and literature. .It would not be necessary to add 
another to the excellent works which are already labouring in 
this good cause, if it were not evident, that the great and 
increasing denomination of baptists need a work of this kind, 
through which they may hold intercourse with each other; 
may explain and defend their principles; may utter their opi- 
nions on subjects of general interest ; may express their 
judgment respecting books, and especially those which in any 
manner affect themselves; may report facts which are worthy 
of a permanent record ; a work, in short, which shall, at once, 
be suited to the wants of the denomination, and which shall 
enable them to contribute their due proportion to the immea- 
surable power of the periodical press. The want of such a 
work has long been felt, and a simultaneous expression of desire 
for it has been made in various parts of the country. The 
denomination have ample pecuniary and literary strength to 
sustain it ; and there can be no doubt, that, with suitable exer- 
tions, the Christian Review may be made worthy of the position 
which it assumes. The co-operation of some of the ablest 
men in our country and in England has been promised, and 
contributions may be expected from individuals in France, 
Germany, India, Burmah, and other foreign countries. The 
plan of the work will embrace a considerable variety of topics, 
in order to adapt it to the condition and wants of the deno- 
mination. It will contain, in such order and proportions as 
may be convenient, reviews, or critical notices of such books 
as may deserve attention ; essays on doctrinal and practical 



BOSTON. 133 

The anniversary of the Northern Baptist Education 
Society was held at Federal-street ; on Wednesday, at 
three o'clock. Mr. Matthew Bolles, of Boston, after ap- 
propriately referring to the visit of the delegates from the 
baptist brethren in England, said that it seemed to him 
proper that in token of respect, these beloved brethren 
should be made life directors of the society. For this 
purpose he would be accountable to the treasurer for the 
sum of $100, (the sum necessary to constitute a life 
director) in the hope that some other brother would con- 
tribute the like sum. It was immediately announced 
that J. Wales, Esq. would be responsible for the other 
$100. This mark of affectionate respect was highly 
appreciated, and will long be cherished as a grateful 
increase to the store of American recollections. 

The whole number of students assisted by the Nor- 
thern Education Society during the past year, is 131 ; 

religion, and on literary and scientific subjects ; articles on 
biblical criticism and sacred literature ; biographical sketches 
of eminent individuals ; historical notices of churches, associa- 
tions, institutions of learning, benevolent societies, &c; statis- 
tics, particularly those of the baptist denomination ; occasional 
items of literary, scientific, and religious intelligence. This 
general plan will be enlarged and modified, as experience may 
suggest. 

li Conditions. —The work will bs issued quarterly, on the first 
day of March, June, September, and December— commencing 
with March, 1836. Each number will contain 160 octavo 
pages, making one large volume of 640 pages annually. It 
will be printed in a style equal to that of any other quarterly 
publication in the country. The price will be three dollars per 
annum, payable in advance, or on the delivery of the first 
number: this will in all cases be strictly adhered to. j 

" Boston, December, 1835. 

12* 



134 BOSTON. 

received during the same period, thirty ; dismissed, 
twenty-four — leaving the present number 105. Of 
those dismissed, thirteen had completed their education, 
and have since entered or were about to enter on im- 
portant fields of usefulness ; one teaches for the present, 
an academy, and one has engaged as a profesor in a 
theological institution, in one of the southern states ; 
nine have entered the pastoral office ; one in Vermont ; 
one in Connecticut ; one has gone to the valley of the 
Mississippi, and six have settled in Massachusetts ; one 
is in a state of ill health ; and one is about to embark 
as a missionary to Africa, under the patronage of the 
Baptist Board for Foreign Missions ; two have died ; 
three have been dismissed, with a prospect of supporting 
themselves ; two have been discontinued , for want of 
suitable promise ; and four have been dismissed, having 
for various causes, suspended their education for a 
season. 

The whole number upon the respective branches, is 
seventy-one, increasing the entire number under patron- 
age, to 176. Of these, thirty-three are in theological 
institutions ; sixty-six are in college ; and the remaining 
seventy-eight are in various stages of preparatory study. 
They are found in the following institutions : — Newton 
Theological Institution, Massachusetts ; Hamilton Li- 
terary and Theological Institution, New York; 
Brown University. Rhode Island; Waterville College, 
Maine; Middleburg College, Vermont; Burlington 
College, Vermont ; Amherst College, Massachusetts ; 
Williamstown College, Massachusetts ; Columbian Col- 
lege, District of Columbia; Granville College, Ohio: 
New Hampton Institution, New Hampshire ; Brandon 
Literary Institution, Vermont; Connecticut Baptist 
Literary Institution. And also in the following high 



BOSTON. 135 

schools and academies :— South Reading, Massachu- 
setts ; Middleborough, Massachusetts ; Franklin, Mass- 
achusets ; Waterville, Maine ; Bluehill, Maine ; Wor- 
cester Manual Labour High School, Massachusetts; 
Black River, Vermont ; Rockingham, New Hampshire. 
The young men are — from Massachusetts, sixty-nine ; 
Vermont, thirty ; Connecticut, sixteen ; New Hamp- 
shire, fifteen; Maine, eighteen; Rhode Island, ten; 
the state of New York, fourteen ; the province of New 
Brunswick, two ; Nova Scotia, one ; District of Colum- 
bia, one ; Wales (England) one ; and one from the 
state of North Carolina. 

The amount received during the past year into the 
treasury of the parent society, is $7096 17cts. ; received 
into the treasuries of the respective branches, $2308 
70cts. ; increasing the whole amount received to $9404 
87cts. Expended by the parent society, $7039 66cts., 
by the branches, $2308 70cts., making the whole 
amount received, $9348 36cts and leaving a balance in 
the treasury of the parent society of $56 5 lets. During 
the year, four classical schools of reputation have been 
opened in New England, under the auspices of the bap- 
tist denomination, namely, Union Academy in Kenne- 
bunk, Rockingham Academy at Hampton Falls, New 
Hampshire, Black River Academy at Ludlow, Vermont, 
and the Worcester Manual High School at Worcester, 
Massachusetts, in which have been collected already 
more than 200 youth, and each institution has several 
studying for the ministry. In New England, there are 
thirteen of these seminaries, besides two others exclu- 
sively devoted to female education, which are annually 
imparting their benefit to more than 2000 youth. 

The Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society held 
its Annual meeting on Wednesday, May 27th, at which 



136 HARVARD. 

time, the amendment in its charter, changing its name 
from Massachusetts Domestic Missionary Society to 
Massachusetts Baptist State Convention, was proposed 
to the society and unanimously accepted. 

At a subsequent hour, the Massachusetts Baptist 
State Convention held a special meeting at the same 
place, when the Convention voted unanimously to com- 
mit all its books and papers to the board of the new 
society. It voted also, unanimously, to commit its funds 
to the treasury of the new society. Thus the two socie- 
ties have been united in one. This was done in perfect 
unanimity of feeling and of judgment on the part of all 
concerned. 

The Massachusetts Domestic Missionary Society, is 
the oldest baptist missionary society in the United States, 
having been formed in 1802. 

At ten o'clock on Thursday, the anniversary of the 
Foreign Missionary Society was held at Federal-street. 
The Rev. Dr. Sharp presided. Dr. Bolles presented a 
brief statement of the condition of the board, and its 
present operations, the same in substance with that 
which we have given at the Richmond Convention. 

Two other public meetings were held afterwards on 
the same day; the last commencing at eight and 
closing at ten o'clock at night. It terminated the 
series at Boston ; the fourth in as many successive 
weeks, to which we had given our attendance, and in 
which we had frequently taken part. With feelings, 
we trust, of devout gratitude to God, we returned late 
to our home. At Richmond, Baltimore, New York, 
and Boston, we had been enabled to fulfil every 
engagement, and neither from fatigue nor indisposi- 
tion, had we been absent from these numerous as- 
semblies. 



MOUNT AUBURN. 



137 



The following day was occupied by excursions to Cam- 
bridge, Mount Auburn cemetery, and Newton Theolo- 
gical Institution. At Harvard University, Dr. Gtuincy, 
the president, received us with his accustomed urbanity. 
He presides over this noble institution with all the 
dignity of a scholar and a gentleman. , The library, 
museum, and college buildings are upon a scale worthy 
of this ancient seat of learning, established by the 
enlightened piety of the fathers of their country, in 1738. 
There are thirty professors and tutors, and, including 
the medical classes, 450 students. 

Mount Auburn cemetery promises to become pre-emi- 
nent among those abodes of the dead which so forcibly 
bring to mind the words, " In the garden there was a 
new sepulchre." The sepulchre which first consecrated 
this beautiful retirement as the place of repose for the 
dead, was that of our own Hannah Adams, to whose 
" View of Religions," the late Andrew Fuller wrote an 
"Introductory Essay on Truth." A neat monument 
bears this inscription : 

TO 

HANNAH ADAMS, 

HISTORIAN OF THE JEWS 

AND 

REVIEWER OF CHRISTIAN SECTS, 

THIS MONUMENT 

IS ERECTED 

BY 

HER FEMALE FRIENDS. 



FIRST TENANT 

OF 

MOUNT AUBURN, 

SHE DIED DECEMBER 15, 1831, 

AGED 76. 



138 BOSTON. 

Many a beautiful tomb now adorns these picturesque 
recesses. 

Of Newton we shall say nothing till the period of 
our revisiting it at the anniversary, except that it gave 
us an exalted idea of those members of our denomi- 
nation, whose noble generosity provided an establish- 
ment worthy of themselves and their churches, and 
so truly in keeping with the prospects of the general 
body. 

We needed the repose enjoyed on Saturday, for the 
Lord's day was to be to ourselves a day of arduous 
labour, though it proved also one of much delightful 
christian intercourse. Each of us preached three times, 
and generally to large congregations assembled in the 
spacious places of worship which our brethren have 
erected in this capital of the state. 

Few as were the opportunities, on this our first visit to 
Boston, of indulging in private and social intercourse, 
we cannot omit to mention, with grateful recollections, 
the pleasurable interview which the hospitality of Lieu- 
tenant Governor Armstrong and his lady enabled us to 
hold with some of the leading ministers and gentlemen 
of the city. In this habitation, and in society so select- 
ed, we found the elegance of life without its frivolity, 
refinement without pomp, freedom without intrusive- 
ness, and religion without sectarianism and uncharita- 
bleness. It was an evening to be remembered • must 
we add, with a sigh, never in all probabibility to be 
repeated ? 



139 



CHAPTER YIL 

DR. COX 5 S JOURNEY THROUGH NEW ENGLAND TO THE 
AND BY BUFFALO TO UTICA. 

Section I. 

Boston to Lowell. — Haverhill.— Public Baptism in the 
River at Dover. 

On the 4th of June I left Boston, for the purpose of 
visiting Upper and Lower Canada ; having arranged 
with my colleague that he should proceed alone to the 
distant west. Whatever reluctance we felt to this tempo- 
rary separation, we could not feel satisfied to return to 
Europe without some personal acquaintance with these 
important portions of the American continent. 

My first day's journey was through Medford, Woburn, 
and Tewkesbury to Lowell, where I preached in a tem- 
perature of 89°; but this seeming prognostication of an 
intense summer, was happily not fulfilled. Lowell is 
regarded as the American Manchester. It is situated on 
the river Merrimack, about twelve miles from Boston. 
The village and the first factory were formed in 1813, at 
which time there were only two houses; at present, it 
contains twenty-three or twenty-four cotton and woollen 
mills, and about 15,000 inhabitants. The falls of the 
river amount to thirty feet, affording facilities for extensive 
operations by water power. Between four and five thou- 



140 LOWELL. 

I 

sand girls work in the mills ; but they are a different class 
of persons from those whose abject poverty and vicious 
habits are but too apparent in the large manufacturing 
districts of England. Most of them, nearly all, are the 
children of respectable farmers or tradesmen, who, from 
a desire to obtain the means of independent subsistence, 
are content to engage in these labours, and to suffer the 
privations incident to an early separation from their friends. 
On the ensuing day, several of these young people were 
my companions in the- stage. This afforded me an op- 
portunity, not only of acquainting myself with the gene- 
ral proceedings of the factory institutions, but with the 
individual character of my fellow-travellers. I found a 
prevalence of good sense and right feeling. One of them 
stated, that of thirty who worked in a room adjoining to 
hers, there were only four or five that were not members of 
christian churches. With their earnings, which are from 
two to five dollars per week, according to their skill, they 
frequently put themselves to school ; thus becoming quali- 
fied for respectability and influence in domestic fife, or 
general tuition in district schools. In Lowell, there are 
fifteen primary schools, three grammar schools, and one 
high school. These are supported by the town, under 
the direction of a committee, and are at once universally 
accessible and impartial in their administration. 

Besides other churches, there are two of the baptist, deno- 
mination. The first having become crowded and over- 
flowing, the second was formed in September, 1831, by a 
friendly withdrawment of seventy members for the pur- 
pose. A procedure of this kind is characteristic of Ame- 
rica. Instead of being held in union by mere selfishness, 
churches, when they have attained to great prosperity, vo- 
luntarily divide, in order that the general cause may be 



HAVERHILL. 141 

enlarged. A new church is constituted in friendly con- 
nexion with that from which a number of members se- 
cede. From this another emanates, and yet another, till 
four or five, or more, multiply in gratifying succession. I 
can wish nothing better for our British churches, than that 
they should emulate this generous, self-denying and bene- 
volent plan ; a plan which has been marked in America 
with signal proofs of the divine approbation. 

The second church in Lowell, under the pastoral su- 
perintendence of Mr. Barnaby, which was formed in this 
manner, has accessions nearly every month : and there 
are at present no fewer than 300 members. Prayer and 
conference meetings, inquiry meetings, and preaching 1 at 
the boarding houses, are maintained weekly. At the close 
of thes rvice on the sabbath evening, persons who may 
feel desirous of it, are invited to a private religious conver- 
sation with the pastor. A society of children, of whom 
several are members of the church, from ten to fifteen years 
of age, maintain prayer meetings among themselves on 
the afternoon of the sacred day. These facts, and they 
are not solitary ones, may convey some impression of the 
hallowed zeal which blazes on many of the altars of Ame- 
rica, and which, I trust, will kindle on our own ! 

Although I had taken my place by the coach from 
Lowell entirely through to Dover, I was stopped at Haver- 
hill, by the irresistible hospitality of Colonel Duncan, at 
whose residence property dignifies and piety adorns life. 
In this vicinity, I enjoyed a brief interview with my old 
friend, the Rev. George Keely, who lives about a mile 
from the village, on the banks of the river Merrimack, 
which combines a thousand soft and tranquil beauties. 
The scene of his former ministrations must be peculiarly 
grateful to him, while it is freshening into spiritual luxu- 
13 



142 



DOVER. 



fiance Under the cultivation of Mr. Harris, recently or- 
dained as pastor. Brief as the notice was, there were 
probably 800 hearers in the evening, who appeared to re- 
ceive the word with joyfulness. The next morning 
Colonel Duncan took me in his carriage to Exeter, a place 
honoured above many, by the last sermon ever delivered 
by Mr. Whitefield. Thence, I proceeded to preach in the 
evening, at Sommersworth or the Great Falls. From 
this beautiful little factory village, where religion appears 
to be in an advancing state, I was conducted, on the sab- 
bath morning, through Salmon Falls, to preach at South 
Berwick, and afterwards at Dover. At the latter place, a 
public baptism was administered in the river Conchecho. 
The pastor, Mr. Williams, officiated ; and on me was de- 
volved the welcome duty of addressing a large, orderly, 
and silent multitude. Standing on a piece of projecting 
rock, to solicit attention, I could not help remarking the 
striking peculiarities of the scene — the company occupying 
both sides of the river, and within reach of an elevated 
tone of voice — the little boats and the fishermen — the set- 
ting sun looking from his throne of glory, and the rising 
moon shedding around her softest radiance, as if the one 
delayed his setting, and the other hastened her rising, to 
witness the sacred rite, and to bless with their commingling 
beams, the happy candidates. 

One had been a sea captain of two-and-thirty years 
standing, and long notorious as a ringleader of deists and 
infidels. His late companions collected together in anger 
or in wonder, stood near, maintaining a profound silence. 
Six weeks before he had denounced the ministry, and the 
man by whose instrumentality he was now led " a willing 
captive to his Lord." 



KENNEBUNK. PARSONSFIELD. 143 

Overflowing multitudes at the evening service, evinced 
the depth of public feeling on this memorable occasion, 
while the spirit and character of the audience appeared to 
give promise of a day " still brighter far than this," when 
the assembly shall be numberless, and the sabbath ever- 
lasting ! 



Section II. 

Kennebunk. — Associations at Parsonsjield. — Revivals. — : 
Passage of the White Mountains . 

Accompanied by Mr. Williams I left Dover on the 8th, 
We visited the Union Academy at Kennebunk. This is 
a Baptist institution which was begun in December, 
1834, at the cost of three thousand dollars. The number 
of scholars in the first term was seventy-three ; in the 
second eighty-eight. It is under the superintendence of 
a board of trustees. A baptist church was formed in 
this village of 2500 inhabitants in June, 1834, consists 
ing of seventeen members, over whom Mr. Lincoln was 
ordained in the following December. Eleven were 
added to their number during the first year. There is 
also a congregational and a unitarian church. Our 
course afterwards conducted us through the beautiful 
hamlet of Albion, which seemed to spring up like a white 
roe among the fir-clad mountains. The venerable elder, 
Smith, now eighty-three years of age, received us cour- 
teously, opposite to whose pleasing solitude we saw the 
Shaker village. These institutions, which occur occa- 
sionally in the United States, appear to be regarded 
with some veneration. They are indeed distinguished 
by neatness and industry, but no less so by hostility 



144 PARSONSFIELD. 

against the principles of Christianity and the welfare of 
social existence. It may seem severe, but I am afraid 
it is but too correct to say, that their worship is a dancej 
and their morality a defiance of God. 

On the way to Parsonsfield we caught a fine view of 
the White Mountains, at the distance of fifty or sixty 
miles. The academy at Parsonsfield has recently ex- 
perienced a revival ; about ten of the scholars have 
joined the Baptist church, under the care of Mr. Buz- 
zell. After a few examinations in subjects of general 
knowledge, I was requested to address them. They 
heard with interest remarks on literary topics, on the 
importance of a sound education, and on the necessity 
of a diligent use of present opportunities ; but no sooner 
was the theme of religion and redeeming mercy touched, 
^han they assumed attitudes which bespoke a more pro- 
found attention, and the fixed eye darting its vivid and 
holy flames through tears of unutterable emotion, called 
forth the irrepressible sentiment in my mind — " here) 
then, is a revival ! " After repairing to the place of 
worship, where it was my object to be present at an 
association of ministers and churches, it was agreed at 
my request to hold a conference in the evening. This 
was a season of much interest both on account of the 
information communicated respecting the revival which 
had "Occurred in the churches, and the affectionate 
confidence which appeared to pervade the ministerial 
brotherhood. It resembled an instrument in tune ; and 
the differences during the discussions were but like the 
occasional discords of music that perfect the harmony. 
A selection of the statements which I received on this 
occasion shall be subjoined. They may be given with 
most advantage and delicacy without the names. 






PARSONSFIELD. 145 

In one place it was determined by a few persons to 
institute a prayer meeting at sunrise, as a means of re- 
newing a languishing cause. In this measure the 
church, after a short time, concurred, till an awakened 
feeling evinced itself, and " a time of refreshment from 
the presence of the Lord," ensued. In conversing with 
a young lady who was the fruit of these efforts, sense,, 
decision, and piety, were conspicuous. Her age was 
thirteen. 

At another village, soon after the appointment of a 
similar prayer meeting last autumn, the church agreed 
that every member should adopt a system of visiting 
each other for the promotion of religion. In a fortnight 
all had been visited. The regular and extra assemblies 
for devotion now became fully attended, when impeni- 
tent persons were pointedly addressed. The practice 
of fasting also was introduced, as well as that of 
mutual confession. This appeared to result in the 
outpouring of the Spirit on every church and con- 
gregation, and protracted meetings were held in all. 
Besides others, twenty-six were added to the Baptist 
community. 

In a third instance the hallowed fire was kindled from 
other altars. Meetings had been frequently held in the. 
neighbourhood in several places, and in the one in 
question a remarkable degree of general attention to the. 
word had been manifested. At length many persons 
began to pray with special reference to their unconverU 
ed relatives. The church then resolved to appoint 
meetings for fasting and prayer for the unregenerate, 
which were observed for three weeks successively. Dur- 
ing this period individuals frequently rose to request 
special intercession for particular friends, till, as the nar-. 

13* 



146 PARSONSFIELD. 

rator expressed it, there was " a general melting- down,"' 
which attained its most powerful character on the ensu- 
ing evening of the Sabbath. Twenty were baptized^ 
no one of whom has subsequently shown any symp- 
toms of declension. 

In detailing a fourth specimen, in which prayer meet- 
ings were established for thirty evenings in succession 
the speaker adverted to the first protracted meeting 
which he had attended about five years ago in the state 
of New York. After the second sermon had been de- 
livered, a hope was entertained that one or two might 
probably manifest decision of mind, if a public invita- 
tion were given. This measure was accordingly adopt- 
ed, though not without considerable hesitation. To the 
astonishment of all, sixty persons rose, bathed in tears. 
In a short time the effect became so irresistible, that the 
whole church fell on their knees, while one gave audi- 
ble expression to the all-pervading emotion. The num- 
ber first-named at length joined the church, and it was 
stated in a letter received at the end of a year, that 
every individual continued steadfast and immoveable in 
the faith. 

A fifth and final specimen may be here cited. It is 
that of 150 added to a small church in four years, half 
of them at least from the Bible classes and Sunday 
school. Some opponents to religion had publicly de- 
nied and ridiculed the efficacy of prayer. Protracted 
meetings, however, for this purpose, were held, and so 
deep was the feeling excited, that the ministers could 
scarcely persuade the people to retire after repeated ex- 
ercises. On one Saturday evening in particular, it was 
announced that there would be no meeting, but the 
people notwithstanding assembled, and continued pray- 



PARSONSFIELD* 147 

ing and conversing till a late period at night. Aged 
persons and children became alike impressed. Three 
of the Sunday school scholars were baptized, and ten or 
twelve were believed to be truly converted. The chil- 
dren met with their teachers for special prayer, and at 
their own solicitation. It happened one evening that 
when the children assembled no teacher came. The 
minister, accidentally passing by, stepped up to the 
door and listened. It was moonlight, but " the Sun of 
righteousness" appeared to have risen, with "healing 
beneath his wings," on the sweet company within. He 
heard distinctly a little boy of eleven years old praying 
with the greatest fervour and propriety. Others engag- 
ed who were only six or seven. When conversed with 
on the surpassing interests of the soul and eternity, they 
seemed as if all had been melted down and cast into 
the very mould of grace. 

I proposed three questions to the ministers, who re- 
lated these and other proceedings of a similar character. 
1. Was the greater proportion of those who came 
forward in these revivals persons who had before 
been serious but undecided in religion, or were they 
entirely new converts from the world ? The answer 
was, that in general they were newly converted ; as, 
for example, 110 professed religion on one occasion, of 
whom forty had been previously impressed. 2. What 
permanent effect, if any, was produced upon those 
who did not profess religion at the time in question, 
though they were powerfully affected ? — Answer : A 
large proportion continued to give evidence of piety, and 
united with other churches. l In many cases, however, 
persons who seemed to believe, flinched (as the narrator 
expressed it) at the time from the ordeal of a public bap- 



148 CONWAY. 

tism, grew cool, and became finally hardened. 3. What 
is the ratio of conversions in a revival, and of the 
stability of the conversions, to those arising out of 
the regular services of religion in a period of three 
or four years or more? — Answer: A considerably 
greater number during any given period of time than 
when only ordinary means are employed, and in gene- 
ral those who continue steadfast are in fully equal, pro- 
bably greater proportion. 

In the morning, I preached to the association of 
ministers and churches. The attendance was overflow- 
ing, and the feeling solemn, arising from the proba- 
bility that this was both the first and the last meeting 
we should be permitted to enjoy on earth. In the after- 
noon, having been joined by Mr. and Mrs. Noyes, who 
were to accompany Mr. Sutton to Orissa, we proceeded 
to Conway. A great part of our route lay through 
forests, from the recesses of whose sylvan temple, we 
offered aspirations of gratitude to God, and through 
whose leafy apertures we caught occasional views of 
enchanting mountain scenery. The little village of 
Conway is bounded on the north and west by lofty sum- 
mits, above which the White Mountains are seen to 
tower in the distance of nearly thirty miles. This is 
the loftiest range in the United States, excepting only 
the Rocky Mountains, which appear to be the natural 
boundary of the far off west. The highest of the 
White Monntains is one which has been stamped by 
American patriotism, with the name of Washington. 
Its elevation is about 5350 feet above the Connecticut 
river. To others not greatly inferior, have been appro- 
priated the names of their admired presidents, Jefferson, 
Adams, Madison, Monroe, and Gluincy. The associa- 



THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. 149 

tion is, however, scarcely consistent with good taste. It 
forces you always to think in metaphor ; it has no dis- 
crimination in it ; and at some sudden turns of conver- 
sation, you scarcely know whether you are talking of 
men or mountains. The reader will now be pleased to 
think only of the latter, and to accompany our party 
into this wild scenery. Although avoiding in general 
much deviation from the direct purpose of furnishing a 
report of religious affairs, I may be allowed to assume 
the traveller for a moment in describing our course 
through the Notch. This term, and that of Gap, is 
applied to a narrow defile, in one place only twenty- 
three feet wide, through which is a road crossed by the 
river Saco ; but can any thing be more out of taste ? A 
notch makes one think of the stick we used to cut in the 
days of boyhood, to measure the hours before the holi- 
days ; and a gap reminds one of the hedges and fences 
we were accustomed to break through in the same fro- 
licksome season. 

Whoever has an eye for nature, or a recollection of 
Switzerland, will find inexpressible gratification among 
these scenes. Burke has decided that the terrible is an 
element of the sublime, and here the overawed observer 
may find an apt and ample illustration. Even from 
the distance of Conway, the picturesque and the beautiful 
solicit attention, as they stand up in continual rivalry. 
As the rocky path winds into the recesses of this vast 
solitude, now traversing some deep and awful glen, 
then threading the labyrinths of a lone wilderness — now 
scaling the steep mountain, and anon, running side by 
side with some babbling brook, or more rapid torrent — 
then again ascending to unfold scenes of desolation, 
where the busy whirlwind and the blasting lightning 



150 THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. 

have called to their aid the fiercest powers, and precipi- 
tated huge trees, flourishing groves, disruptured rocks in 
one mighty ruin, as if a thousand Etnas had vomited 
their lavas on the scorched and wo-stricken hills ; — as 
these scenes become revealed, successive impressions of 
awe spring up in the mind, while, as the eye catches 
revealings of intermingled loveliness, and the ear listens 
to the voice of whispering cascades, inviting you to con- 
template embowering groves, or shelving rocks, or grace- 
ful curvatures, fringed with shrubs and verdure, other 
emotions arise of bewildering astonishment and admira- 
tion. You are ready to ask, Where am I ? Where is 
language 7 Where is the poet's frenzied eye and fer- 
vent pen ? Where is the painter's canvass, and the glow- 
ing touch ? Where is the power that can perpetuate 
in the memory, these woods — these torrents— these 
mighty ruins — these cloud-capt and forest- girdled moun- 
tains — this everlasting roar of torrents, that roll be- 
neath my feet, and shatter the poor wood frame of 
the bridges I am crossing — these bends, and turns, and 
openings, and this glorious sun that sends his golden 
beams streaming through the woods to light our way ! 
O where, rather, is the spirit, the ardour, the devotion, 
to see, adore, and love their great Creator! 

As the traveller approaches the Notch, he perceives a 
double barrier of rocks rising abruptly from the sides of 
the river Saco, to the height of nearly half a mile, and 
surmounted here and there by castellated turrets on 
their irregular summits. As he advances along the toil- 
some and sometimes rapid ascent, the giant forms of 
the mountains seem to stand forth in bold defiance to 
forbid his progress, or with their nodding forests to 
menace his approach. But a favouring turn in the 






THE WHITE MOUNTAINS; 151 

road enables him to slip from beneath their frown, and 
evade their power. The lengthening defile; however, 
shuts in upon him like the creations of romance — the 
cleft and scarred sides of the mountains, exhibit pros- 
trate trees with their broken branches, which have been 
tossed about among fragments of rocks and stones, by 
the fantastic violence of mighty tempests, glare upon 
him on either hand — and the ceaseless rush of the river, 
or the sportive clamour of descending torrents, sound 
like the chorus of wild spirits, celebrating their deeds 
of darkness and of ruin. At length, he emerges through 
the narrow opening, and in the centre of a graceful sweep 
of mountains, takes refuge in the only human inhabita- 
tion. Here, if he pleases, he may meditate and prepare 
for an ascent to the summit of Mount Washington, 
where, in his turn, he may stand in proud pre-eminence 
and victory ; and if the spirits of the storm hold back 
their clouds, may contemplate the Atlantic to the south- 
east, the Katahdin mountains to north-east, the green 
mountains of Vermont to the west, mount Manad- 
noc, 120 miles to the south-west, with intermingling 
lakes, forests, and " rivers unknown to song." 

The occurrence of an awful catastrophe, a few years 
ago, has superadded an affecting interest to these wild 
and magnificent regions. A family, of the name of 
Willey, resided about two miles from the commencement 
of the Notch. On the 28th of June, 1826, they were 
much terrified by an avalanche of loose earth, rocks, and 
uprooted trees, which rushed from the mountain top 
during a storm. This alarm induced them to erect a 
kind of log house at a convenient distance from their 
own dwelling, as a refuge in case of emergency. Two 
months afterwards, there was a night of impenetrable 



152 THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. 

darkness and awful tempest. The windows of heaven 
were opened, and deluges of rain descended. It ap- 
pears that the family had retired to rest, when the com- 
mingling elements began their work of devastation. 
The whirlwind seized the avalanche, the fearful weapon 
of his warfare, and hurled it down the steep ; the del- 
uge lent his powerful aid, and rushing headlong in a 
thousand streams. Checked by some unknown obsta- 
cle, the wide torrent, which was hastening with unspeak- 
able impetuosity in a direct course to Willey's house, 
divided into two streams immediately above it, and only 
sweeping away the stable, reunited below ; leaving the 
dwelling itself like a peaceful island in a billowy sea. 
The unhappy inhabitants, however, it is supposed, had 
risen from their beds in terror. That they had retired 
to rest, the state of the beds and furniture demonstrated ; 
but probably in an attempt to escape to the asylum they 
had recently provided, they perished. Not one remain- 
ed to tell the tale of horror, nor were the bodies of the 
nine sufferers found for several days. The morning 
light revealed the uninjured house, the green in front 
nourishing like an oasis in the desert, on whose spring- 
ing verdure Willey's flock of sheep were grazing in quiet 
enjoyment. The rude memorial of this calamity, is to 
be seen in a pole, across which a board is nailed, to in- 
dicate the situation where the bodies were found. Such 
is the interest everywhere felt in this sad story, that 
it seems as if it had awakened the sympathies of all 
America. 



LISBON. 153 



Section III. 



Visit to Lisbon, at the Anniversary Meeting of the Free- 
will Baptists. 

Pursuing our course, the next day, through a tract of 
wild mountainous scenery, we reached Lisbon, that is, 
the town or township, for these terms are used synony- 
mously, to express a district of about six miles square. 
To this deviation from the direct road, I was induced, 
partly by the report that a revival feeling had for some 
time past pervaded this neighbourhood, and partly from 
hearing of the annual assembly or convention of the 
free-will baptists, to which my companions, Mr. and 
Mrs. Noyes were proceeding, to receive their missionary 
designation. I found myself in the afternoon not only 
conveniently but agreeably situated in family associa- 
tion with ministers and christian friends, in the house of 
Mr. Parkes, on Sugar Hill. This epithet, was in all 
probability, first given to the pretty elevation on which 
the house is erected, on account of the numerous maple 
trees which abounded there, and which were formerly 
objects of careful cultivation. It is the rock maple, 
from which molasses and sugar are obtained; and 
though this vicinity is partially cleared, the process is 
still carried on to a considerable extent in the state. A 
good tree will generally yield from one to two pounds of 
sugar in the season. The incision is made in the 
spring, about the month of April, and a suitable trough 
or wooden basin is contrived to catch the oozing trea- 
sure. 

Before detailing the events of the following three or 
four days in Lisbon, I may briefly allude to the doctrinal 

14 



154 LISBON. 

peculiarities of the body with whom I was now brought 
into contact. The term free-will, by which these 
associated churches are distinguished, is intended to 
represent the fundamental principle of those peculiari- 
ties. In England, the word general baptists, is em- 
ployed, and being placed in contrast with particular, 
points out the former as arminian, in contradistinction 
from the latter as calvinistic. It is a very common 
errror, both in England and America, to imagine that 
particular has reference to strict communion ; whereas 
it is solely descriptive of a calvinistic theology. Hence, 
both a strict and open communionist, may be a partic- 
ular, that is, a calvinistic baptist. Neither of these 
bodies, however, in England or America, is accurately 
described by their appellation. In both countries, the 
general or free-will baptists stand at acute angles to the 
methodists, nearly in the line of Baxterianism, and 
approximate a considerable portion of the calvinistic 
body in England, who describe an ellipsis round the two 
foci of high and low Calvinism. Among what may be 
termed the moderate of both parties (I presume not to 
graduate or decide upon the merits of the degree of 
moderation) there have lately been some movements in 
the form of private conferences to accomplish a union, 
and I was present at a discussion on the subject. It is 
proper, however to state, that these have been very par- 
tial, and restricted to a section of one state: hitherto 
they have had no practical result. 

On arriving at Sugar Hill, we found that the public 
meetings had already commenced, in a conference on 
missionary affairs. Soon afterwards, the assembly was 
adjourned to the evening. The place of worship is 
finely situated on a gentle ascent, encompassed with an 






LISBON. 155 

amphitheatre of romantic hills, whither it appeared by the 
flocking of people, in the wagons of the country, on 
horses, and on foot, as if " the tribes went up." A ser- 
mon was preached by Mr. Herriman, of Ware, on the 
words " pure religion." It contained many just and 
pointed sentiments. The morning of the next day was 
occupied with the affairs of the annual meeting, and 
-especially reports from the districts. In these districts, 
•the ministers meet quarterly, prepare accounts of the 
state of their respective churches, and furnish a gene- 
ral account of the whole at the annual meeting. I 
minuted down the following items, as the proceedings 
advanced : 

New Durham 34 churches . 2356 members. 

Sandwich . 20 ditto. . . 1478 ditto. 

Ware ... 17 ditto . . 817 ditto. 

Wolfborough .8 ditto . . 439 ditto. 
Revivals were reported in some of the churches of Ware, 
in Franconia, Bethlehem, and Whitefleld ; and Sunday 
schools were greatly promoted. The Rockingham 
Quarterly Association requested to be incorporated into 
the body, consisting of eleven churches, and 1120 mem- 
bers. About 300 had been added to the churches since 
September, and doors of usefulness were opening on 
every hand, especially along the sea-board. A motion 
was made in favour of the abolition of slavery, which 
was unanimously earried, and with great demonstration 
of zeal in the cause. On this occasion, I felt it a duty 
to express myself with decision, not only to show my 
consistency in the sentiments I had always entertained, 
but to prevent any misunderstanding of the motives 
which had influenced my neutrality on the question at 
New York. I wished it to be understood, that while I 



156 LISBON. 

was one in principle with the abolitionists of America, I 
could not be one in action ; especially because of the ex- 
isting ferment, which a foreign interference would only 
exasperate, and because, however great and holy the 
cause, I had a still greater and holier to accomplish in 
the ecclesiastical union of distant nations, and the gene- 
ral progress of Christianity itself. 

In the afternoon Mr. Buzzell, of Parsonsfield, was ap- 
pointed to preach. The heat of the place induced me 
to take my station in one of the wagons which stood in 
the shadow of the building immediately opposite an 
open window so as to afford a distinct view both of the 
pulpit and the congregation. Every hearer seemed 
powerfully affected ; audible expressions of feeling often 
rose upon the ear, like the repetitions of a distant echo, 
and sometimes concurrently like the sound of many 
waters. I could not withhold a mental participation in 
those ardent emotions. To this the age of the speaker, 
his warmth of manner, and his references to olden 
times eminently conduced. His text was taken from 
Is. 62. 6, 7, " I have set watchmen upon thy walls," &c. 
A few sentences transferred to paper at the moment of 
their utterance, may serve to convey some idea of the 
nature of the discourse, and the characteristic oratory of 
this useful class of preachers : — " I have been standing 
on the walls of Zion, watching for souls, and proclaiming 
this gospel, for five-and-forty years ; and now, brethren, 
I know that I must soon come down, — yes, my age 
assures me, being sixty-seven, I must soon come down, 
brethren ; but not, I trust, I hope not, I would not could 
I help it — no, I would not come down till I have seen 
Babylon, the mother of harlots, fall — not till I have stood 
long enough to preach a funeral sermon for Babylon, 



LISBON. 



157 



and pronounce it over her ruins. Oh ! she must come 
down, and if I read prophecy aright, it must be very- 
soon. Dear young brethren, pray for and aim at this 
great consummation. ' As a young man marrieth a 
virgin, so have I married thee.' Yes, the Lord Jesus 
married the church in these lands when she was a 
poor despised virgin ; but see how beautiful she has 
grown now ! I remember when all the people we could 
muster together amounted to only forty ; now see what 
thousands assemble to worship and glorify the Lord ! 
The watchmen are l not to keep silence day or night.' 
Not by day ; I think this may refer to times of com- 
parative prosperity : not by night ; this may refer to 
seasons of adversity — to dark times. Amidst the present 
prosperity, let us remember the church has had her dark 
times in this land. They were dark and difficult sea- 
sons when I traversed the woods forty years ago, with 
an eminent brother minister now r in glory, and we 
threaded our way by the spotted trees through the 
forests, then uncut and uncleared, to search for persons 
to preach to and places to preach in ; when we used to 
lie down in the woods by night in the blankets that 
covered our saddles for a bed, and the saddles themselves 
for a pillow. But blessed be God, we kept not silence 
then — we kept not silence day or night ; and I speak it 
for your encouragement, dear young brethren ! I must, 
as I said, leave the wails very soon ; but let me tell you 
never to keep silence day nor night, in prosperity or ad- 
versity. No, not even when it is night in your own 
souls. Why, here is an encouragement. It has been 
often found, and I have often felt it, that when minis- 
ters have their worst times in preaching, they have been 
really the most successful. I remember that on one occa- 
14* 



158 LISBON. 

sion in particular, I was so shut up and so miserable in 
my own soul in preaching, that the words seemed as if 
they would not come forth, they were like icicles freez- 
ing in my mouth ; but still I struggled- on and on, and 
in the midst of my embarrassment I secretly said to 
God, if he would but help me and grant me but one, one 
soul for my hire, I would never be unbelieving again, 
as I had been when I begun : and, lo ! the result was 
fifty additions in a short time. Oh, keep not silence — 
go on, go on in your darkest times !" 

In the evening there was another service, when Mr. 
Woodman of Sutton preached, at the close of whose ser- 
mon an invitation was given to any who might be con- 
cerned about their salvation, to come forward to the front 
seats, which were appropriated to such under the desig- 
nation of anxious seats. About ten or twelve advanced 
to the spot, and were prayed for most fervently by dif- 
ferent ministers in succession, who knelt in the aisles, 
and gave full vent to the impulsive feelings of the mo- 
ment. Conversations also were held from time to time 
with the individuals in question, some of whom, at the 
instigation of the ministers, publicly confessed their 
faults, and the evening terminated amidst much excite- 
ment. These demonstrations were again exhibited, 
and on a larger scale afterwards, to which I shall pre- 
sently refer. 

The next day being the Sabbath, was one that can- 
not easily be forgotten. In addition to the usual at- 
tractions of a denominational anniversary, the presence 
of persons from such distant places, Mr. Sutton from 
India, and myself from Europe, together with the pro- 
posed ordination of a missionary to accompany Mr. Sut- 
ton on his return to Orissa, and of another to proclaim 



LISBON. 159 

the gospel in the valley of the Mississippi, were concur- 
rent circumstances well calculated to awaken extraordi- 
nary interest. As an overflowing attendance was anti- 
cipated, arrangements were made to conduct the services 
in the woods, which constituted it in fact at once an 
annual, missionary, and camp meeting. When I look- 
ed abroad from my window in the early-morning, 1 saw 
what would probably prove a preventative of our out-door 
meetings. Vast masses of vapour rested like heaps of 
wool upon the mountain tops, and a chilly breeze por- 
tended descending showers. When the romance of feel- 
ing is awakened, how apt are we to imagine that all 
things must be in harmony with our wishes and pro- 
jects ; and indeed, throughout life, and every day, we 
are foolishly forgetting that there may be other and 
higher harmonies in the economy of providence, than 
those which the little selfishness of individuals contem- 
plates as so important. Sometimes the threatening 
vapours appeared to be retiring, and then clung again 
by long and pendant arms to the summits, as if unwill- 
ing to depart. At length, however, they withdrew, re- 
vealing one of nature's fairest amphitheatres, in which 
we had fixed an altar for the living God. The day, was 
the day of " sacred rest ;" the place, was the place no more 
of savage existence and infernal immolations ; the hour, 
was the hour when thousands and tens of thousands in 
America, and in many a land, encompassed their Fa- 
ther's throne, with the sounds of worship, and the love 
of children. 

The place of assembly was aptly chosen. At the 
appointed time, we walked up a gentle ascent, preceded 
or followed by the gathering multitudes, to a grove, 
where the solemnities were to be conducted. From 



160 LISBON. 

north and south, from east and west, they came ; like 
the predicted flow of earth's last and best population, 
" to the mountain of the Lord's house, which shall be 
established on the top of the hills." Here was a stream 
of people treading the verdant vale, and there a little 
company or family marching with a sabbath step, with 
" hearts burning within tbem," like the disciples on their 
journey to Emmaus — and yonder, a train of the small 
country wagons hasting down the slope, as if the very 
horses trotted along in sympathy with the happy wor- 
shippers they conveyed. 

The reader may now imagine himself entering the 
leafy temple. On the right, is an elevated stand of wood, 
on which five or six of the ministers have already taken 
their stations, while before and around you are long 
benches filled with the ever-increasing throng, and beyond 
them, many a modest worshipper or, recent convert, form- 
ing the outer ring. Many of the wagons in the rear, are 
occupied with those who could not obtain seats, while the 
horses are let loose among the trees, and wander for a time 
at will. Some of the beautiful beech and maple trees, 
too, stretch their arms to sustain the eager youth, or 
wearied saint and sage. A hymn is announced as the 
commencement of the worship, and anon, the voice of 
praise from 3000 worshippers ascends to the skies, and 
echoes among the hills ! Heaven and earth are now 
adoring " the Lamb that was slain ! " 

After prayer, having been requested to deliver an intro- 
ductory discourse on the general subject of missions, I 
preached from our Saviour's declaration, " I am the light 
of the world." The attention was solemn, universal, and 
unbroken. An ordination service, conducted on the usual 
plan in England, then followed, when Mr. Eli Noyes 



LISBON. 161 

was appointed to accompany Mr. Sutton to Orissa. Mr, 
Sutton delivered an excellent charge to his young brother. 
Immediately afterwards, another ordination service was 
performed, when Mr. Benjamin F. Neely was set apart 
for the valley of the Mississippi. All religious denomi- 
nations are waking to this project, roused by the rapid 
extension of catholic influence. An impression has gone 
forth, that the supporters and advocates of popery, encou- 
raged by the far-reaching policy of the great European 
centre, have commenced a series of efforts, with a view 
to the spiritual occupation of the west. The American 
churches have determined on the only legitimate method 
of opposing these plans ; namely, the circulation of the 
scriptures, the encouragement of missionary enterprise 
and itinerant ministrations ; the use, in short, of every 
spiritual, and the rejection of every carnal weapon of war- 
fare. It is a glorious contest, the final struggle, as we 
believe of one party, which has voluntarily transferred the 
battle-field from Europe, and the victory on the part of 
pure evangelical truth, will furnish a brighter page for 
future history, than Thermopylae or Salamis. 

In the afternoon of this day, Mr. Sutton excited great 
interest by a sermon, which was at once a missionary 
and farewell discourse. The specimens of Indian gods 
which he had been (accustomed to exhibit in his journeys 
through the States with considerable effect, were once 
more presented to the multitude, whose mute attention, 
and weeping eyes, told the story of their compassion for 
the deluded millions of Asia. 

In the evening, after a sermon by Mr. Marks of Ports- 
mouth, an invitation was given in the customary manner 
to those who felt concerned about their souls to come 
forward to the anxious seats, that they might enjoy the 



162 LISBON. 

prayers and instructions of their ministerial friends. In 
a quarter of an hour, but not without repeated importu- 
nities, about thirty-five persons, men and women, had 
complied. The ministers, one after another in rapid 
succession, now knelt down in the aisle or pew to pray, 
with an occasional brief interval of whispering conversa- 
tion with individual candidates, who were urged to speak 
and confess their sins. Both Mr. Sutton and Mr. Noyes 
engaged in tins manner hi prayer, each following other 
ministers of the denomination. Every sentence or two 
was accompanied by loud responses from the assembly, 
with words or groans of assent. Thus they prayed, sung, 
confessed, and ejaculated. The impassioned character of 
the supplications was often astonishing for fervency and 
flow. The whole atmosphere seemed infected with excite- 
ment. It encompassed you, and forced you to breathe it. 
You seemed to have got into a new element of existence. 
The whispers or appeals to candidates in a subdued tone 
were often solemn, seasonable, and pointed. a Consider, 
you have taken the first step ; the first step in religion is 
infinitely important ; to be decided is the great point. Go 
along, go along, never draw back. We pray, for you, 
but you must pray for yourselves. Christ is the hope of 
the guilty and of poor backsliding souls." The devotions 
soon lost much of the character of a mere string of gene- 
ralities, and in some instances, especially as the atmosphere 
became more glowing, descended even to singularly per- 
sonal and minute specifications. c - Gracious God, regard 
these souls — these mourning souls ! Some of these are 
backsliders, and are come back to thee ; they are brought 
with weep — weep — weeping eyes and hearts. Blessed be 
God for one of these mourners in particular, the aged man 
— an old acquaintance of mine of twenty years' standing. 



LISBON. 163 

See, Lord, there he is, he is come at last." Words of 
peculiar interest were often marked by dividing the sylla- 
bles, the first of which, the speaker hung upon in a long, 
drawling, vociferous accentuation, difficult to express on 
paper ; as glo — ry, ho — ly, everla— s — ting. The impas- 
sioned ardour of one prayer in particular can never be 
obliterated from my memory. It was that of one of their 
chief ministers. I felt at the moment, that if I could not 
entirely sympathize — if from any scruples I could not 
glow, and burn, and blaze as he did, it was because my 
heart was frozen and dead. The utterances fell tremen- 
dously, and sometimes from their vehemence and rapidity, 
almost unintelligibly, upon my unaccustomed ear. " O 
Lord," said he, "look upon us and bless us ! Our help is 
in thee ! We seek thy face as thou hast desired ! O, look 
upon these souls, these precious souls ! Here is a company 
of penitents and backsliders before thee ! Look upon 
these anxious seats, upon these humble mourners, these 
mourn— ers in Zion ! O my God, I am myself a mourn 
< — a mourn — a mo — o — o — ourner : ;? and here the speak- 
er, with a passionate utterance no terms can describe, and 
with a gradual deflexion of voice through the whole octave 
to the lowest note, fairly broke down with overwhelming 
emotion, and carried with him, as it seemed, the whole 
audience with their concurrent tears, sighs, groans, and 
exclamations. The effect was inconceivably powerful, 
and the whole expression, I am perfectly assured, most 
sincere. It was like the confluence and the sound of 
many waters. 

Desirous of investigating to the utmost the nature of 
those revivals, which have been so much both lauded 
and denounced, I was determined not to be satisfied 
merely with what I saw or overheard ; and therefore 



164 LISBON. 

proceeded, with the permission of the ministers, to con- 
verse in a whisper with several individuals who had re- 
paired to the anxious seats. My object was to penetrate 
below the surface of an outward demonstration of feel- 
ing, and to ascertain the inward sentiments and emo- 
tions of the mind. This I was enabled to do without 
attracting particular notice from the surrounding multi- 
tude, in consequence of the hum and bustle incident to a 
body of people, variously occupied, and in a state of excite- 
ment. My recollections of what passed substantially shall 
be limited to a brief report of two or three cases, which 
may stand, each as a specimen of a class, and, together, as 
an average of what is developed in many revival move- 
ments. Entering the seat, then, and selecting my can- 
didate, T inquired, " What brought you here?" — " I was 
called upon to come." " Now, from the pulpit, or before ? " 
— "From the pulpit, by the minister." "Were you 
ever in an anxious seat before to-day?" — u O yes, sir, 

but" "But what? Speak freely."— "I lost my 

religion — I am a backslider from God." " Did you 
feel, then, on a previous occasion as powerfully as you 
do at present ? " — " O yes, but, alas, I have gone 
astray !" " What led you to backslide, after professing 
the deepest religious impression ? " — " The world, the 
pleasures of the world, and the ridicule of others." " You 
could not, then, renounce sin entirely ; you could not 
encounter a sneer and follow Christ ? " — " Only for a 
time. I mourn — Oh, indeed I mourn, that I have been 
a backslider." " But, having abandoned your profes- 
sion once, you may do so again. This may be only a 
transient impression — another vanishing dream of re- 
ligion." — " I hope not. I do wish and pray not. I am 
resolved now, and trust shall never backslide again. I 



LISBON. 165 

see the vanity of the world, and the sinfulness of my 
conduct; I would be amongst the people of God." A 
second was less communicative, but seemed much affect- 
ed. "Are you here for the first time?" — "Yes." 
" What induced you to come?" — " I wish to be prayed 
for." "Why?" — Silence. "Do you feel sensible of 
the guilt of sin ? " — Silence. " Did you ever feel any 
particular desire after religion before?" — "No, sir." 
" Then you have lived a worldly and careless life?" — 
" Yes." " Have you attended this or any place of wor- 
ship before ? " — " Sometimes, — not often." " But never 
cared about your soul ? " — " No." " Well, what is your 
idea now? What is the sentiment or feeling that brought 
you here? What thought now affects you so deeply?" 
— " I wish to be prayed for." To a third, " 1 hope you 
are anxious about your eternal concerns, as you appear 
in the anxious seat?" — " I am. I am a great sinner.'' 
"Have you come forward as any other time?" — " No." 
" Why now, then ? " — " I have been asked, and urged 
to come, if I wish for religion." " And so you wish for 
religion, and wish to be prayed for ?" — " Yes." " But 
you must pray for yourself." — " I don't know what I 
feel." " What particular idea influences you, or what 
was it made you approach these seats ?" — " I have been 
powerfully impressed." " With what ? "— " With what 
has been said and done." " What has been said, that 
particularly impressed you? " — " Oh, the whole." " Well) 
what is then your sincere feeling and purpose ? " — " I 
know I am a great sinner, and I wish to have Christ 
as a Saviour ; I wish to experience religion." I would 
remark that this is the common phrase employed on 
these occasions ; they uniformly speak of experiencing 
religion. I have endeavoured to impart to the reader 

15 



166 LISBON. 

a correct idea of the respective conditions of mind in the 
three individuals introduced in the preceding narrative, 
The first appeared to me hopeful ; the second doubtful j 
the third satisfactory ; that is, so far as it was possible 
to form a judgment upon premises so slight, and with 
feelings so incipient. The stranger certainly was not 
qualified to intermeddle with the secrets of the heart, 
yet the manner in which the confessions of the tongue 
are made, may often betray the inward character. The 
sympathies of our nature, and the developements of 
piety will continually, if not infallibly, enable us to per- 
ceive humility, or detect artifice. Whatever may be 
our opinion of particular measures, or whatever our 
sentiments on the general question of excitement as a 
means of religion, it is the dictate of inspiration to 
"judge by the fruits" that are apparent. Great heat 
may undoubtedly produce a rapid, and it may be un- 
natural vegetation ; but it will suit some plants. Let 
the promoters of revivals be universally as solicitous to 
form character as to promote feeling ; and they will 
then have made the whole moral experiment. I charge 
them not, that is, the more wise and sober of them, with 
the abandonment of this test ; on the contrary, I know 
that many of them are solicitous for its most rigorous 
exaction. To despise excitement, when our mental 
and moral constitution obviously need it, and when 
Scripture itself appeals to the passions as well as to the 
understanding, would be folly ; to depend upon it. when 
at the best it can be but a means, or instrument of 
good, requiring a skilful application and a judicious 
control, would be impiety. 

My intercourse with the ministers and people of this 
denomination convinced me of their zeal and union. 



WATERFORD. 167 

I perceived also much of enlarged benevolence, and in- 
dividual generosity of feeling. Their sentiments to- 
wards each other were eminently fraternal. Whoever 
was the preacher, he was equally cheered by every other. 
The puritanical manner appears to be very generally re- 
tained ; and it is combined with much of the primitive 
spirit. Their method of address is often pointed, and 
commonly vehement. They are in the main unedu : 
cated ; but are beginning to value learning, and to pro- 
mote it. As a denomination, their views in some points, 
and their practices in other respects, will, no doubt, be 
modified by time and experience. 



Section IV. 
Progress from Sugar Hill to Montreal. 

The road from Sugar Hill traverses Franconia, and 
runs parallel for some distance with a branch of the 
river Ammonoosuc to Littleton, a village whose white 
buildings appear in bold relief, on a back-ground of 
shadowy and pine-covered mountains. At Waterford 
we visited Mr. Stiles. He is, in the New Hampshire 
dialect, " a forehand farmer." Having made u a clear- 
ance " for himself, he has resided on the same spot for 
thirty years, and is liberally affording his support to a 
general baptist church in the neighbourhood. Milk 
was set before us, in a "lordly dish," from which we 
transferred it by means of a kind of saucepan to large 
basins. During this refreshment, a frankness and 
readiness of communication were at once gratifying 
and instructive to the inquisitive stranger. 



168 CONNECTICUT RIVER. 

Crossing the Connecticut river, we advanced into 
Vermont, through Jonsbury, another elegantly-con- 
structed and picturesque village, where we traversed 
the Pasampsic, a tributary of the Connecticut from the 
north, and then its tributary the Moose river. The 
coup d'oeil along the valley of the Connecticut is en- 
chanting. The habitations of the new settlers, who are 
at once enjoying the natural fertility of this region, and 
diffusing it wider by cultivation, everywhere strike the 
eye. These white-painted and wood-covered dwell- 
ings, each with its appropriate barn and outhouse, glist- 
ened in the sun along the sides of the mountains, while 
here and there the spire of a rural church pointed to the 
heavens, and sustained the single bell which announc- 
ed, for many a mile, the hallowed hour of worship. 

The average population of New Hampshire is thirty 
inhabitants to a square mile, which gives about 269,000 
to the state. They are industrious and moral. It is in 
general a grazing country ; the soil being difficult of til- 
lage, and adapted to pasturage. It is emphatically, and 
with justice denominated "the granite state." The 
extent of the sea coast is very limited, and level ; but 
the interior is diversified by hills, and mountains, forests, 
rocks, rivers, and beautiful lakes. Of the latter, the 
Winnipiseogee, nearly thirty miles in length, is the 
most considerable. Numerous boulder stones, upon an 
undulating surface, display to the geological observer, 
proofs of the powerful operation of the diluvial waters. 

General remarks on the literary and religious state of 
New Hampshire are here omitted, as they will be most 
properly incorporated in the united account of the depu- 
tation, who subsequently visited another section of the 
State together. In the mean time, the reader may now 



DANVILLE. 169 

accompany the writer to Danville in Vermont, the resi- 
dence of the governor. Of the eight baptist associa- 
tions of the state, comprising about 125 churches, besides 
those which are unassociated, one is distinguished by 
the name of this town. I regretted the absence of the 
pastor of the baptist church at Danville, at the time of 
my visit, but found there a nourishing cause. I saw Mr» 
Jones, pastor of the congregational church, which as- 
sembles, though not very numerously, in a good-sized 
building. He had come from England only in the last 
summer, and had been invited within a fortnight of his 
arrival, though a perfect stranger, to this place, where he 
is labouring with pleasing prospects. This circum-~ 
stance is illustrative of the present state of the religious 
community, in many parts of the Union. Such is the 
want of ministers, that every one of good character and 
talent, from any shore, is eagerly sought and immedi- 
ately employed. It may be affirmed, that in the north 
and east, as well as the west and south, " the harvest 
is great, and the labourers are few ; " and it would be 
laudable in Britain, which is more richly supplied, to 
"send forth labourers into the harvest." Let it be 
recollected, however, that the New England states have 
acquired a certain respectability of character, which 
demands, if not the most refined and elevated order of 
ministerial competency, at least that which shall com- 
bine knowledge, judgment, and zeal. Many of the 
churches have experienced revivals of religion, and are 
vigorously supporting the system of Sunday school in-* 
struction, Bible classes, and missions. Mount Holly and 
Chester, in the Woodstock association, and two at 
Shaftesbury, in the Shaftesbury Association, appear to be 
among the most numerous churches. The first named 
15* 



170 WATERBURY. 

of these has been so remarkably prosperous, thai 
although two considerable churches have been consti- 
tuted by the secession of members, it still numbers 
between 400 and 500. 

The next town of any magnitude, to which the trav- 
eller arrives, in crossing the state, is Montpelier. The 
road passes through Waterbury;* and through Cabot 
and Marshfleld, where a small baptist church is situated. 
The whole distance is diversified by the Green Moun- 
tains, and the windings of the Onion River. To give 
a beautiful stream, such a name is not in good taste, 
and though it might have been originally bestowed, on 
account of the odorous vegetable having been abundant 
on its banks, surely it might now be exchanged for 
something of more fragrant import. Montpelier con- 
tains 2000 inhabitants, and hides itself in deep seclusion 

* My colleague, in his progress to New Hampton during" a 
short separation, passed through this place, and communicated 
to me in a letter the following statement : — " At Waterburj', I 
paid a brief visit to Governor Butler, who, you remember, 
though a pastor in our denomination, had once the honour of 
being governor of the state of Vermont. His eye is not so 
dimmed with age, but that you may clearly discern it was 
once expressive of the intelligence and energy equal to the 
responsibilities of such an office, however undesirable it may 
be to blend it with pastoral engagements. Forever let his 
name be honoured, among those who steadfastly determined, 
and laboured with untiring zeal to disencumber the state of 
the burden of a religious establishment, and religion of the 
manifold evils of state patrpnage I As we walked towards the 
town, he told me that, fifty years ago, he cleared the first spot 
in this cultivated district, which was then all wilderness; now 
his children's children are growing up around him, to inherit 
the land and the liberties, they owe so literally to their fathers.' 7 



MONTPELIER. 171 

amidst encircling mountains. A new state house, of 
great elegance, is erecting, whose dome already con- 
structed, shines from afar. The church of lc the stand- 
ing order," or congregationalists, is near, with its usual 
accompaniments of steeple, bell, and wooden flight of 
steps : the latter being admirable contrivances for re- 
tarding the progress and soaking the shoes of the 
approaching worshipper in rainy weather. The term 
" standing order," refers to the compelled support of this 
party, by a tax, in the township, amounting to a kind of 
semi-national establishment, which formerly gave great 
advantages to the congregational body in the states ; 
but the recent abolition of this exclusive support, has 
occasioned the more than proportionate increase of other 
denominations. 

At the time of my arrival in Montpelier, there was 
a considerable excitement in consequence of the visit 
of a celebrated revivalist, one who drove religion for- 
ward with a reckless fury. He was to address young 
people the same evening; and he pursued his sys- 
tematic course of moral mechanism for several days. 
This term appears to me accurately to express the facts. 
I afterwards came into another scene of his operations, 
the effect of which had been, when the fermenting ele- 
ments had subsided, to leave in more than one religious 
community, a residuum of spiritual coldness, border- 
ing on a disinclination to all religion, and productive for 
a time of total inaction. From delicacy I conceal his 
name, while recording a specimen of his proceedings. 
After repeated prayers and appeals, by which he almost 
compelled multitudes to repair to the anxious seats, he 
asked again and again if they loved God. They were 
silent, " Will you not say that you love God ? Only 



172 MONTPELIER. 

say that you love, or wish to love God." Some con- 
fessed ; and their names or their numbers were written 
down in a memorandum book, to be reported as so many 
converts. It was enough to give an affirmative to the 
question ; but many were not readily, and without con- 
tinual importunity and management, induced to the 
admission. He would continue — " Do you not love 
God ? Will you not say you love God V 1 Then tak- 
ing out his watch, — " There now, I give you a quarter 
of an hour. If not brought in fifteen minutes to love 
God, there will be no hope of you — you will be lost — 
you will be damned." A pause, and no response. 
" Ten minutes have elapsed ; five minutes only left for 
salvation ! If you do not love God in five minutes you 
are lost forever ! " The terrified candidates confess — the 
record is made — a hundred converts are reported !" 

Let it not be imagined that these are common 
methods of procedure, even amongst the most zealous 
revivalists ; but the tendency to similar extremes is not 
very unfrequent. Fanatical extravagances of this de- 
scription, are unhappily confounded by many, with efforts 
which are not only more sober, but unobjectionable and 
useful. In the estimation of the wisest and best of 
men, they disparage a good cause, and provoke some of 
them, as I have found, to discountenance eveiy move- 
ment which comes under the name of a revival. It is 
proper, however, to look at this subject with a just dis- 
crimination : to consider that the very counterfeit im- 
plies the existence of the valuable coin ; that there may 
be a holy, and assuredly is in many parts of America, a 
beneficial excitement which essentially differs from a 
fanatical commotion ; and that we ought not to under- 
value, or be repelled from energetic measures which have 



GREEN MOUNTAINS. 



173 



the stamp of reality, religion, and scripture upon them 
by the indiscretions and impieties of spiritual mechan- 
ists, zealots, and alarmists. 

The road from Montpelier to Burlington, a distance of 
seventy miles, has many attractions. It runs nearly paral- 
lel to the Onion river for several stages, and opens contin- 
ual views, some near and others remote, of the Green 
Mountains, over which the everlasting forests are here and 
there interspersed, with patches of verdure and cultivation. 
In one place, the accommodating driver stopped his coach 
to allow the passengers a short walk, to contemplate the 
magnificent sight of the river rushing through a pass so 
narrow, that the rocks formed a natural bridge of stones, 
where, if a man chose to dare the dangers, he might 
cross the foaming torrent. The Green Mountains are the 
highest of the Apalachian chain, except the White Moun- 
tains ; and traversing the whole extent of Vermont, divide 
it into principal declivities of broken or undulating 
ground ; the one descending to the Connecticut river, the 
other, to Lake Champlain. They are in general more 
elegant in their forms than those of New Hampshire, 
being generally rounded, and sometimes wearing a 
strong resemblance to the Alpine cones. The Camel's 
Hump and the Mansfield Mount are the most celebrated; 
the former especially, for the precipitousness of one of its 
sides, as well as its general elevation. The Green 
Mountain Boys are renowned for their resolution, and 
for various feats of warlike valour, which are detailed 
in the history of their country. This designation has 
become a kind of national badge, of which I heard them 
repeatedly boast. 

Vermont is well watered ; and has a good soil and cli- 
mate. The chief employments of the people are agricuU 



174 LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

tural. Literature has done something, and religion more, 
for this state. The university of Vermont, at Burlington, 
has acquired some celebrity. I was much delighted with 
its situation on the summit of the hill, from which, in 
coming from Montpelier, you suddenly catch a view of 
Lake Champlain. On the opposite shore, rise the moun- 
tains of the state of New York ; beneath which the lake, 
with its islets, the Four Brothers, the Jupiter, and Schuy- 
ler islands, seems to he on its sylvan couch in sweet repose. 
At Brandon, there is a literary and scientific institution, in 
which provision is made by the erection of separate build- 
ings at a sufficient distance for male and female instruc- 
tion. Vermont has also formed a state convention, with 
its association of churches, and an institution auxiliary to 
the Northern Baptist Education Society. Perhaps one of 
the most efficient instruments of good in the baptist deno- 
mination, has been the establishment, in 1828, of a reli- 
gious periodical called "the Vermont Telegraph." Through 
the medium of this publication the people were informed 
of the progress of evangelical and missionary exertions, of 
which, scarcely any tidings had penetrated those regions. 
Interest was immediately excited, zeal enkindled, and 
exertions made. The time is assuredly hastening when 
the martial prowess and renown of the Green Mountain 
boys shall lose its splendour amidst the surpassing glory of 
a more spiritual generation, u the soldiers of the cross," 
whose multiplying thousands on the hills of Vermont ; will 
be "valiant for the truth." 

When I glided up Lake Champlain in a steam-packet, 
it was like a "sea of glass," which led me to meditate on 
the apocalyptic vision of " them that had gotten the vic- 
tory over the beast and over his image, and over his mark, 
and over the number of his name," that stood on the em- 



LA COLLE. 



175 



blematical "sea of glass, having the harps of God ;" but, 
alas ! how little did the view of Cumberland Point, which 
brought recollections of the sanguinary past, when, in 
1814, the English and American fleets met in awful con-* 
flict, harmonize with the imaginings of the glorious future, 
when the "Prince of peace" shall sway his universal 
sceptre, and " men shall learn war no more !" 

From Plattsburgh on the western side of the lake, (a 
place not worth looking at as a village, however valued 
by the mere traveller for its warlike associations) I pro- 
ceeded in a hired wagon of the country to La Colle, the 
residence of Mr. Henry Hoyle. The house stands plea- 
santly about 100 yards within the zig-zag fence that con- 
stitutes the boundary line between the United States and 
Lower Canada. Here I had the gratification of meeting 
Mr. Gilmore and several friends, who came, for the pur- 
pose of an interview, from Montreal, a distance of thirty 
miles. The general state of religion and the means of 
promoting it in the Canadas, formed the chief topic of 
conversation. On the following morning, Thursday, I 
preached at Rouse's Point, about six miles distant on the 
lake shore, to an assembled multitude whose ears and 
hearts seemed both to be open ; and in the afternoon to a 
very respectable congregation at Champlain, who were 
convened by the call of "the church-going bell" in the 
presbyterian church. 

In pursuing my journey on the following day. I passed 
through a street of fourteen miles in length. This will 
doubtless fall astoundingly upon an English ear ; but it is 
nevertheless the fact, and I have even seen streets extend- 
ed to fifty or sixty miles. The reason of this is obvious. 
A settler fixes on some government grant of land, or, as it is 
sometimes called, a concession^ cutting his way into the 



If 6 LA COLLE. 

forest ; another pursues a similar plan ; then a third, a 
fourth, and so on. The road is of course lengthened as 
the habitations multiply, without changing the original 
designation, so that it may as well become a hundred 
miles as a hundred yards. A public inconvenience indeed 
results, which I bitterly experienced on one occasion, 
namely, that of being unable to calculate on the situation 
of a friend, who may be said to live in the street of such 
a city. 

The road northward from La Colle was lined on either 
side for many miles by French and Dutch houses, inter- 
spersed with a few English, whose inhabitants had come 
from Lancashire and Yorkshire. I was pleased with the 
spontaneous second growth of the woods along this level 
country ; the larch and spruce firs in particular vegetate 
in elegant forms. It is a singular phenomenon, that as 
soon as a tract of country in America is cleared, unless the 
plough prevents, a new forest begins to spring up, but of a 
different species from the aboriginal trees. Let the oak be 
felled, and lo ! the maple, the birch, or the fir shall arise. 
Do the seeds or roots remain in a state of quiescence for 
centuries, like the living toad embowelled in the rock, and 
with elastic force push upward into being upon the remo- 
val of the superincumbent pressure ? So it should seem ; 
but the law by which this circumstance is regulated, seems 
in both cases a mysterious one. Soil dug from great depths 
will frequently become at once productive, and by the 
same principle of vegetative spontaneity, the mud from 
the bottom of the Delaware covers itself with white clover. 
Perhaps the most remarkable fact is, that when portions 
of the banks of Newfoundland emerge from the ocean, as 
they have often done, becoming flats of dry land, as, for 
example, Sable island ; they soon exhibit a plantation of 



MONTREAL. 177 

forest trees. Whether the seeds are in the soil, or floated 
to it, let the naturalist determine. 

Mendicity is surely matured in this country. Beggars 
scorn the European fashion of standing by the way-side 
with a tattered hat. to solicit the poorest donation ; on the 
contrary, they drive their trade with such planned and 
orderly management, that they take their frequent, per- 
haps weekly rounds in a cart, to collect contributions in 
the shape of joints of meat and potatoes ! 



Section V. 

Montreal. — Journey through the woods of Lower Canada to 
Chatham, Bredalbane, and Fort Covrington. 

At La Prairie I found myself on the banks of the river 
St. Lawrence, opposite to Montreal. It is nine miles 
across, sailing in a diagonal line ; the direct distance may 
be seven. The approach from this point is exceedingly 
imposing, as the cathedral, with the other churches and 
buildings of the city, catch the eye and sparkle in the 
sun. It is true they are only covered with tin or bright 
shingle ; but they shine like silver. A lofty hill rises in 
the back-ground 700 feet in height, through whose smil- 
ing verdure the white mansions of the wealthy here and 
there peep forth. We passed near Nun island, whose 
lovely bowers, and closely-shaven lawns would remind 
one of the descriptions of paradise, were it not for the 
superstition and error that cast their deep and doleful sha- 
dows around. 

Montreal is situated on an island in the St. Law- 
rence, at the distance of about 180 miles from Quebec, 

16 



178 MONTREAL, 

and is nearly as large a city. The number of inhabi- 
tants approaches 35,000 ; and being the chief seat of 
the fur trade, it is continually increasing in importance 
and population. The houses are built of stone; the 
streets are well paved ; some of them are wide, but many 
are narrow. The majority of the inhabitants are 
French ; the rest are Scotch and Irish, with a few En- 
glish. Many are the gay triners that haunt the city j 
and, as some one has .said, it is a place where " nobody 
may become somebody." 

I witnessed, while here, one of the great catholic 
festivals, and could not help perceiving in it an occasion 
of the deepest sorrow. The city was all in commotion,, 
while the streets were paraded by priests, in gorgeous 
dresses, perfumed by incense. Instead, however, of 
giving my own description, I will request the reader to 
peruse the account of the Montreal Gazette, bearing in 
mind, while he reads it, that this was a religious ser- 
vice, conducted on the Sabbath. u The procession 
of Corpus Christi, which took place on Sunday 
morning last, within the city, with the usual solem- 
nities of the Roman Catholic church, proceeded 
from the parish church through Notre Dame-street 
towards the Bossecours church, and returned along St, 
Paul and St. Joseph-streets, halting on its way at the 
Congregational nunnery, the Bossecours church, and 
the Hotel-Dieu. The band and an officer's guard of the 
thirty-second regiment attended upon the procession y 
as did also a sufficient escort of the volunteer cavalry, 
who made a fine soldier-like appearance. The bishop 
of Telmesse, it was expected, would have been present 
at the ceremony, but it was supposed that the state of 
the weather detained him at the lake of the Two Moun- 



MONTREAL, 179 

tains, and the duty of carrying the sacrament devolved 
upon the Rev. M. Quiblier. In the afternoon the same 
ceremony took place from St. James' church, where the 
bishop of Tabarca officiated, escorted by Captain de 
Bleury's rifle company." Bands, regiments, rifle 
corps — and all this parade under the name of re- 
ligion! To increase the profanation, there was a 
central canopy, with a large piece of glass in the 
form cf a human eye, having gold or silver rays ema- 
nating in all directions, inserted in the front cur- 
tain, behind which walked a priest personating Dei- 
ty ! for how else could it impress the gazing multitude, 
who were taught to call it " the all-seeing eye?" And, 
to crown the folly and the madness, protestant gentlemen 
joined the chief procession of the priests, in order to sub- 
serve a political object ! 

How different was the scene to which I was privi- 
leged to retire with the christian friends with whom I 
had become associated ! From this popular tumult we 
hastened to the humble dwelling of the worshipping as 
sembly. In the morning I preached to the baptist con- 
gregation, and in the evening to a very numerous au- 
dience in the large American presbyterian church. The 
afternoon was devoted to the Lord's supper. There was 
no procession — no noise — no cavalry with their soldier- 
like appearance — no rifle corps — no holiday-making mul- 
titudes admiring they knew not what, and rushing 
hither and thither, they knew not where; all was peace 
and love and joy ! It was a sacred spot — the festival of 
holy souls. Even "babes and sucklings were there, 
out of whose mouth God had ordained praise ! " Youth 
and age were remembering, in that hallowed hour of 



180 MONTREAL. 

commemoration, their common Lord, and anticipating 
the everlasting fellowship of heaven ! 

The annals of the baptist church show, since its form- 
ation in 1831, a clear increase in the first year of sixteen, 
in the second of eleven, in the third of thirty-four, and 
in the fourth of twenty-seven. A Sunday school is con- 
nected with this society, and a missionary fund is esta- 
blished, which has aided several home missionaries, and 
from which I had the pleasure of receiving a donation to 
the Baptist Missionary Society at home, since my re- 
turn. The members of the church are chiefly English 
and Scotch, with a few Irish and a few Americans ; and 
there is a prevalent attachment to protracted meetings 
and revival efforts. I cannot satisfy myself without 
briefly detailing a few interesting conversions which have 
recently occurred in connexion with such meetings, held 
in Montreal and at La Prarie. 

James* is a boy of thirteen years of age. He had 
become unmanageable, and his father and mother were 
heart-broken. On one occasion, when the pastor of the 
church was addressing the Sunday school children, 
James had a long stick in his hand, with which he was 
striking the children, as far as he could reach. The 
pastor fixed his eye on him, and addressed him person- 
ally on his awful condition — saying he was the child of 
pious parents — their tears, their prayers, their example, 
would rise up in judgment against him. He feigned in- 
attention to the address, but after the sermon in the 
evening, came forward, the tears streaming from his 
eyes, and expressed a wish to be prayed for, and to re- 
ceive instruction on the subject of salvation. He became 

* The entire names are suppressed from motives of delicacy. 



MONTREAL. 181 

evidently and deeply concerned about his soul ; but be- 
ing- a youth of violent passions, there was a dangerous 
irregularity in his religious movements. Some time 
after, he called on the pastor, and spoke of Jesus Christ, 
and the design of his death, in a manner that surprised 
him. It was then proposed to pray, and James at once 
engaged, with affecting expressions of penitence and fer- 
vour. A few sentences were as follow : " O Lord, thou 
hast often sown the seed of thy word in my heart, but I 
have v/ickedly thrown it out, and I am so wicked, that I 
shall do it again, if thou dost not prevent ; O Lord, keep 
thy word in my heart now ! The devil has often taken 
the word out of my heart, but, O Lord, if he come again 
to do so, don't let him I " From this time, he became 
steady in his attention to the subject of religion ; a tho- 
rough change of temper and conduct ensued, and he, 
who had been the pest of the family, became its orna- 
ment. His father and mother, both members of the 
church, declare that the change is not more pleasing to 
them than it is marvellous. They admire the grace of 
God in him. His views of acceptance through Christ 
are very distinct. He speaks of Christ with great solem- 
nity and energy. This, indeed, is not astonishing, when 
it is recollected that the boy had often felt the uncontrol- 
lable character of his passions, and despaired of having 
them subdued ; but faith in Christ has released him from 
their tyranny. His anxiety for the salvation of others? 
too, is become steady and ardent. 

John, is another boy of a very violent temper. His 
age is twelve. The great aversion which he manifested 
to religion, often alarmed his parents. If asked whether 
he loved Jesus Christ, he used to declare he did not, nor 
did he like to go to worship. It was too plain to his pa- 

16* 



182 MONTREAL. 

rents that he was waxing worse and worse. They be- 
came exceedingly distressed, and having felt unusual 
earnestness when praying alone for him, they agreed to 
appoint special seasons to pray together for his conver- 
sion. A protracted meeting came on about this time ; 
and as he expressed a desire to attend, they gladly al- 
lowed him. He attended with evident interest, and fa- 
vourable impressions were made on many persons. One 
morning, while this meeting was going forward, a prayer 
meeting of the family was proposed, the express object of 
which was the conversion of the boy. While they were 
engaged in this exercise, he unexpectedly came into the 
house, and heard one imploring God for him. This 
struck him with awe— and from that time, he became 
concerned for his soul — his convictions were pungent — 
his inquiries earnest — he was much alone, and greatly 
alarmed. One night, for two hours, he walked the 
room in the utmost despair; but at length, from the 
domestic instructions he received, and the sermons he 
heard, his mind began to turn to the Saviour. One 
morning he came to his father, and said, "I have found 
peace in believing." They both knelt down, and he 
prayed with great artlessness. Next morning, he said 
to his mother, that he felt his peace going away, and 
" wickedness coming back to his heart," and wished her 
to pray with him. His views of the gospel now became 
very distinct, his desire after religion ardent, and his joy 
and peace in believing, steady. Since this period, he 
has been all that parents could wish in a child ; his fear 
of sin is great, he is never angry, and his obedience is 
most exemplary. Two things seem to engross his atten- 
tion ; his own improvement in the divine life, and the 
conversion of sinners to God. The change appears en- 



MONTREAL. 183 

tire ; his mind turns habitually to the subject of religion ; 
and though he is pursuing other studies, he frequently 
takes up the bible to read; he scarcely ever speaks on 
any other subject than that of religion, which is his very 
element. After he had obtained peace from the gospel, he 
wished to be baptized, and added to the church ; his father 
intimated that "he would think about it." The boy went 
to his mother, and said, that " he did not know why his 
father wished to delay his baptism — for as soon as they 
repented and believed in primitive times, they were bap- 
tized and added to the church ;" and at the same time 
referred her to several passages in the acts of the Apos- 
tles. It may be proper to observe, that having often 
seen baptisms, he had a strong aversion to the service, 
yet now he longed to be baptized. He was naturally 
very proud, and had used very insolent language to the 
servant when she was first converted, and again when 
she was received into the church. He went to her, con- 
fessed his sin, and declared his grief that he had been so 
wicked. " Indeed, Eliza," he said, " I thought it was 
all a pretension, but now I feel it to be a reality." In a 
very interesting conversation with this youth, upon ask- 
ing him " if he had really separated himself from the 
world, and felt that he had renounced its sinful pleasures 
so as to fix another habit of thought, desire and action," 
he promptly and emphatically answered me — " I have 
found, and know, there is a certain gratification in them, 
but it is temporary and vain. Oh, sir, the pleasures of 
religion are lasting and everlasting ! " 

An eminent physician in this neighbourhood, had 
been for a long time a notorious enemy to the gospel of 
Christ. It was not, perhaps so generally known that 
he was so far abandoned of God, as to be active in the 



184 MONTREAL. 

circulation of the most infamous publications of 
infidel writers. But he has since confessed, that for 
twenty years past, he had led a miserable life, his mind 
being always disturbed by his conscience. He attended 
a protracted meeting held in Montreal, and the word 
powerfully affected him indeed, but only to stir up his 
enmity. He cursed (the expression which he himself 
used when giving the account) all those who were 
actually engaged in the meeting ; and when the evening 
service terminated, and he had reached the door, he 
turned round to curse them, resolving never to come to 
a meeting again. The next night, however, he re- 
peated his visit ; but when the services closed he still 
remained an impenitent sinner. A protracted meeting 
was subsequently held at La Prairie, where he regularly 
attended, till his distress became intolerable, and it was 
evident to every observer, that he was beginning to 
yield. The burden of guilt now pressed so severely, 
that he feared the consequences ; he tried to pray but 
in vain. At this time a minister entered into conversa- 
tion with him, to whom he said, " I am miserable ; I 
have tried every expedient to procure ease to my aching 
heart, but all to no purpose ; I shall give it up ; I must 
be lost." He was answered, " There is one method 
you have not tried." " What is that ? " " Faith in Jesus 
Christ." " Faith ?— Oh I never thought of that— I see 
it clear. Yes, I can now pray." He went into his 
house, called together his wife and children and in their 
presence, poured out his heart unto God. A few days 
after, when relating the circumstance, he said, pointing 
to a large building, " Before I believed, it was as if that 
building had been pressing upon me ; but on believing, 
I enjoyed immediate relief. I am happy ; had the God 



MONTREAL. 185 

of providence bestowed the empire of China, how insig- 
nificant, compared with the mercy he has shown me ! " 
Towards the close of the protracted meeting, he rose up 
in the presence of the whole assembly, and addressed 
them in an impressive and affecting manner ; referring 
to his former life, and declaring, that as he had been so 
notorious in wickedness, he felt that he owed to them 
and to God, this public confession. My interview with 
him was most gratifying, as it furnished an opportunity 
of witnessing an intellectual infidelity, fading and dying 
before a heartfelt piety. 

The state of things in the church was, at the period 
of my visit, somewhat peculiar. My excellent friend, 
Mr. Gilmore, their pastor, had a deep impression on his 
mind that it would be more advantageous to the general 
cause of religion for him to itinerate in th£ country, than 
to persevere in the more restricted labours of his station 
in Montreal ; and the people, with affectionate readiness, 
were disposed to concur with his own wishes. Nothing 
could be more disinterested, or primitive in its spirit, than 
the pastor's proposition ; and to my repeated intimations, 
that a provision for the support of his family from some 
quarter was requisite, he as often answered, "I am 
willing to cast myself on the care of Providence, and 
trust in the Master I serve." In the conferences we 
held, the propriety of the separation being recognized, I 
was consulted upon the question of a successor ; and 
after much deliberation, and a knowledge of all the pe- 
culiarities of the station, I ventured to recommend my 
friend, Mr. Newton Bosworth. He was at that time in 
the neighbourhood of Toronto. His acceptance of the 
proposal has afforded me great satisfaction, and by a 
brief extract from a letter, which I have recently re- 



186 MONTREAL. 

ceived from him, the reader will become acquainted with, 
circumstances as they now exist. " I had four or five 
places to preach in on the Sabbath around my residence 
in Yonge-street, (Toronto) some of them belonging to 
the methodists, who have broken up more ground than 
they can cultivate ; and the same, or a greater number 
in Dundas-street, during my short residence there, 
among the remains of a baptist church (fifty-five mem- 
bers,) which I was invited to take the charge of, and 
re-gather. They had been looking at the states for 
help, and I believe are doing so again. Had I had 
more time, perhaps I could have done something there ; 
but I was obliged to employ ( six days in labour,' and 
secular matters ; and this was one reason why I thought 
Montreal would be more eligible, as it will give me all 
my time to devbte to the great cause. Can any thing 
be done to aid us ? I mean with regard to the colony 
generally. The Montreal church can support itself, and 
perhaps do a little beside. Mr. Gilmore is now engaged 
in the work, having taken a house at Clarence, on the 
Ottawa. With respect to his plan of preparing natives 
for the work, I told him he had better begin, if it were 
but with one. I found he had done so, as you know ; 
and I found also that two had been in his house, had 
gone forth, and become most useful labourers. Being 
about to remove, he could not, it is apparent, continue 
his attention to this object, but suggested that I might 
with advantage attend to something of the kind. 
Whether my other duties will permit me to undertake 
it, or do all that is requisite in it, I am doubtful ; but it 
is singular and encouraging, that four or five young 
men, two of them independent in circumstances, and 
respectable in themselves and their connexions, and all 



LA CHINE, 187 

but one able to support themselves, have signified to me 
their wish to come under a course of instruction, for the 
purpose of going forth to preach the gospel. But we 
want many more, and we cannot expect all, or even 
many, can support themselves ; and hence the necessity 
of a fund, or society, to which, in the case of promising 
young men, recourse could be had at once. Can you or 
any of our friends show us how any thing can be done 
for these great ends ? Now is the time. Lose a few 
years, and profaneness and infidelity will overrun the 
land ; and it may take a century to regain our present 
position." 

One of my reasons for wishing to transfer Mr. Bos- 
worth from Toronto to Montreal, here developes itself. 
It was his adaptation, not only to occupy the particular 
post to which he was invited, but to assist personally in 
that superintendence of evangelical efforts, which I 
perceived were essential to the spiritual necessities of 
Canada. This subject will be resumed hereafter. 

On the 22d of June, I left Montreal, accompanied 
by Mr. Gilmore, on a journey into the interior. We 
crossed a portion of the isle of Montreal to La Chine, 
where we embarked on, what is inaccurately termed, the 
Lake of St. Louis, whose pretty bordering of low 
wooded lands was surveyed at leisure as we sailed 
along. We met many boats laden with potash, flour, 
and wheat, that had fearlessly descended the rapids, and 
were scudding before the wind. Opposite La Chine, is 
seen the Indian village of Coughnawaga, several of 
whose copper-coloured inhabitants were our companions, 
and conversed together in their own language. Many 
of the rough lumber-men of the river were also on board, 
and several Frenchmen, who were fiddling and dancing. 



188 THE RIVER OTTAWA — LA CHUTE. 

At the extremity of the isle of Montreal, we crossed the line 
of the two great rivers into the Ottawa. 1 express it thus, 
because its junction with the St. Lawrence is strongly 
marked by the long line of its dark brown-coloured wa- 
ters contrasting with the bright green of the latter river. 
At Vaudreuil, we passed through a lock to avoid the 
rapids : these, with the graceful sweep of the river, 
expanding into an apparent lake, with rocks and islets 
scattered over its tranquil bosom, constitute a perfect 
scene of fairy land, loudly demanding, what America 
seems slow to furnish, the pen of the poet, and the pen- 
cil of the painter. Just before emerging into another 
expanse, called the Lake of the Two Mountains, Isle 
Tourte, or the Pigeon Island presents its beautiful form 
and foliage ; whence we were soon transported to the 
Indian village of Gannestaugh, inhabited by the 
Iroquois and Organqui tribes. It is lamentable to find 
that, in these villages, the only religion introduced is the 
Roman catholic, whose imposing forms have been al- 
lowed, without disturbance or counteraction, to lead 
captive their ignorant population. We landed at Ca- 
rillion, and rode magnificently in a cart to the hospitable 
home of Mr. Richards, at St. Andrews, whose disin- 
terested and benevolent applications of property, I will 
not attempt to record, lest it should inflict the pain of 
an unwelcome publicity. Here we were lulled to sleep 
by the waterfall of the North River. 

Impatient to penetrate the recesses of a wilderness, 
where an extraordinary power of religion had evinced 
itself, the earliest arrangements possible were made for 
the purpose. Having reached La Chute, in a wagon, 
we immediately procured horses. Adopting all the 
needful precautions against the attacks of the insect 



CHATHAM. 189 

tribes^ whose territories we were about to invade, and 
mounting- a horse of unquestionable capacity to march, 
leap, plunge, or stumble over trees, boughs, roots, stones^ 
gullies, marshes, and mud holes, we set forward. 

In traversing the woods, there is something peculiarly 
pleasing in its rural sounds and associations. Instead 
of the brick buildings and the smoke of a city, with the 
stir and bustle of eager traffic, you have the glory of the 
vegetable world, with its forest empires, and leaf- crowned 
monarchs. Your ears are saluted by the hum of innu- 
merable living atoms, and your eyes attracted by the 
splendour of their wings, while the thoughts are elevated 
to Him whose power and goodness have produced them 
all, " whose tender mercies are over all his works," and 
who has constituted each, — the very minutest that flits 
in the solar beam, or through the shadowy wood, — 
capable of an enjoyment proportioned to its little life and 
limited sphere of being. And in pursuing the train of 
reflection, suggested in such circumstances, which com 
ducts from the wonders of creation to the manifestations 
of redeeming mercy, how grateful to the pious wanderer 
is it to realize in the ever-present Deity, at once the God 
of nature, and the God of Scripture ! 

In these solitudes, the mind is also singularly and 
pleasingly affected by the sound of the woodman's axe, 
as he aims his destructive blow at some lord of the 
forest ; his occasional call to the oxen, which have been 
yoked to the rude car that is to bear away his treasures ; 
and the ram's horn that echoes through the woods from 
afar, to announce his meal, or solicit his return. Here 
and there, as we proceeded, we found a lonely cottage, 
and invited its inmates to attend a meeting, which we 
intended to hold that day at the school-room in the 

17 



190 CHATHAM. 

township of Chatham, which was the first object of our 
present adventure. This place had been distinguished 
by a religious movement of the best kind, and at the 
time of our visit exhibited the most gratifying evidences 
of the prevalence of a spirit of piety. The christian 
reader will sympathize with the joy which I felt in ascer- 
taining the following facts, and holding a meeting of 
such privileged intercourse as I shall describe. 

A few individuals of the baptist denomination were 
scattered over this wilderness ; but having no minister, 
and being almost entirely destitute of religious means 
and opportunities, they had sunk into a state of spiritual 
lethargy. Lately, however, they had been desirous of 
a visit from some christian minister, when my friend, 
Mr. Gilmore, determined to go, and added to the an- 
nouncement of his intention the following words: — 
" Now, dear brethren, in order that the visit may be 
useful for the conversion of soulsj much will depend on 
your possessing the spirit of prayer. Let a good portion 
of time be spent in prayer for a blessing on the preach- 
ing of the word." ' This appeal made a deep impression • 
and the following incident was connected with it. In 
a house near which we passed, and which I could not 
but regard with emotions of interest and gratitude, lived 
one of these now christian families. The son about this 
time was continually missing at night. This circum- 
stance, in a solitude so wildj and at a season when the 
ground was covered with snow, occasioned uneasiness. 
*These nocturnal absences continued, but the cause could 
not be ascertained. What companionship had he 
formed? What conduct did he pursue? At length 
maternal anxiety, that fountain of blessing to the world, 
Was roused into action. Night after night had elapsed j 



CHATHAM. 191 

when his mother determined to follow her retiring son 
at a sufficient distance to be unseen. Over the snow, 
and over the brook, and into the forest she went after 
him ; and there was he observed, bending the knee of 
fervent and solitary prayer for a blessing on the ap- 
proaching meeting ; imploring the communications of 
the Spirit, and the revival of religion ! The mother and 
son had already professed it, and subsequently all his 
brothers and sisters have turned to God and are mem- 
bers of the church. The youth in question is now en- 
gaged in preparatory studies for the christian ministry 
in one of the theological colleges. 

The people from this time associated for frequent 
prayer, and there was a general preparation of mind for 
the effort which had been contemplated. Though scat- 
tered like a few sheep in the wilderness, they soon felt 
the enlivening influence of devotional union, and the 
appointed season for a series of public services was wel- 
comed. The first meeting was held on a Tuesday 
evening, when a sermon was delivered from the words, 
" As soon as Zion travailed she brought forth children." 
The ensuing days of Wednesday and Thursday were 
devoted to prayer and preaching, when it was intimated 
that private conversation would be held with any who 
might desire it. From ten to twenty persons appeared 
to be under deep concern, and in the afternoon a consi- 
derable number expressed the most pungent convictions. 

The officiating ministers, Gilmore and Fraser, were 
surprised with the frequent and almost general inquiry, 
" What shall I do to be saved ?" Friday and Saturday 
were occupied as before, at which period several had 
obtained consolation. On the Sabbath Mr. Gilmore was 
left alone. Public worship was begun at ten o'clock in 



192 CHATHAM. 

the morning, but he was compelled to continue it till 
four in the afternoon. The people were repeatedly told 
the service was concluded ; but none of them would 
move till Mr. G. was unable from fatigue to persevere. 
After an interval of two hours, the solemn engagements 
of the day were resumed, and extended to nine or ten 
at night. Again and again individuals approached to 
the desk to represent their heartfelt anxieties, and to in- 
quire after the way of life. Before the close a particular 
address was given to those who were ready, by standing 
up, to intimate their decided reception of the peace and 
mercy of the gospel. Seventeen young men and five 
women presented themselves. Every one of these has 
continued to this day ; about ninety have since joined 
the church ; the flow of feeling is unabated, and conver- 
sions frequently occur. They have now a settled minis- 
ter, Mr. Edwards, whom I had the pleasure of seeing, 
and who afterwards accompanied us through the woods. 
Such is the zeal of these good people, that nothing de- 
ters them from immediately professing religion when 
they feel it ; an*d last winter, having made a natural 
baptistry by cutting through the ice, when the thermo- 
meter was fifteen or twenty degrees below zero, eleven 
of them, on a very stormy day, professed Christ by bap- 
tism. 

Upon our arrival we had .agreed to invite the people 
to a conference in the school-room, where I was to ap- 
pear in the character simply of Mr. Gilmore's friend, lest 
these children of nature should be embarrassed by the 
announcement of a delegate from England. A free 
conference -ensued. Many of the speakers were very 
young, but were ready to confess and praise the God of 
solvation. To avoid prolixity, I shall omit some details 



CHATHAM. 193 

which might otherwise be interesting, and which the 
occasion called forth. A specimen or two may suffice. 
A youth said, " I sat there, sir, near the pulpit ; Mr. 
Fraser was preaching, and led me to see the evil of sin ; 
I was overwhelmed with sorrow." "And what gave you 
peace?" — "As I went home I thought on the words of 
Christ which I had heard, ' Come unto me all ye that 
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' 
I saw that Christ was able and willing to save, and that 
I had nothing to do but to come to him and believe on 
him." Another stated that he had lived two winters in 
a shanty (that is, an inferior log hut made for tempo- 
rary accommodation in the woods,) amidst abounding 
wickedness of every description. He had been conscious 
of some sense of religion, but was entirely withdrawn 
from it by bad company. When he came home to visit 
his mother now and then, he found that she and others 
went to the school-room to worship ; but he refused, be- 
cause he thought he was as good as they. Sometimes 
he met the people on their return, when one and another 
would speak a passing word about religion, and men- 
tion where they had been. Still he persisted for a long 
period ; but at last was persuaded to go. He continued, 
however, altogether unimpressed, not only indifferent, 
but hostile. But the thoughts of what had passed would 
occur to him in the woods, and one day he began to 
consider, as he was working, " What if I should die ? 
What would then become of me ?" He tried to subdue 
the emotion and to get entirely rid of it ; but it rose 
again in his mind. He reasoned and struggled, and 
would not yield. Having by some means obtained a 
bible (I think one his mother had given him) he threw 
it open carelessly, in a kind of paroxysm produced by 
17* 



194 CHATHAM. 

inward conflict. His eye fell upon the following words 
in Deut. xxviii. 15, " But it shall come to pass, if thou 
wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to 
observe to do all his commandments and his statutes 
which I command thee this day, that all these curses 
shall come upon thee, and overtake thee." He then 
wished most earnestly that some one would kill him, 
that he might escape the misery which he felt. " Peter 
M'Farlane," said he,' "after this talked to me, and 
quoted that passage, c Who is a God like unto thee, par- 
doning iniquity,' which proved life to my soul." 

I watched with the utmost vigilance, every thing that 
passed around me during this conference. There was 
not a man, woman, or child, in the crowded assembly, 
that did not manifest entire sympathy wdth all that was 
said and done. There was not an eye that did not weep 
or sparkle with emotion. It was the atmosphere of revived 
and spreading religion. All was simplicity in manner 
and diction. There was no reserve, yet no ostentation ; a 
pervading humility, and no artifice. Each seemed to 
speak as freely before a hundred others, as if only one 
were present, and as if each other's experience had been 
(and this, indeed, was the fact) the subject of familiar 
conversation ; so that they were neither arrogant, nor 
ashamed. They appeared to feel themselves to be mem- 
bers of one family; and to my view, were at once the 
children of unsophisticated nature, and of saving grace. 
One .little boy of eleven years of age, had given indubitable 
proofs of his conversion. He was blind from his birth : 
but he beheld "the glory of the only^begotten of the 
Father, full of grace and truth." This poor sightless, but 
believing child, was to join the church on the ensuing 
Sabbath ! 



THE BUSH. 195 

From Chatham, we had to beat our way for fourteen 
miles through the bush ; fourteen hundred, might, in 
some parts, have been travelled with less difficulty and 
inconvenience. Bush is the Canadian term for the dense 
forest and tangled wilderness. The woodman is said to 
go into the bush, to labour ; the emigrant goes into the 
bush, to clear away and settle ; and the traveller passes 
through the bush, if he can, in his adventurous journey. 
The Indian used to trace his course by spotted trees, that 
is, trees which had been notched by the hatchet ; and 
when any information was to be transmitted, he drew 
some characters on the bark of a cedar, and deposited his 
letter in its hollow trunk or branch. 

Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Edwards, and myself, with two 
christian friends accustomed to the country, constituted 
our cavalcade. Were I to indulge in stories of personal 
adventure, I might here refer to the awful plunges of my 
poor animal in deep hollows of mingled mud and decayed 
vegetation ; and I might represent the narrow escape 
which I had, of being crushed between two monstrous 
trees, by the sudden rush of my horse up a steep, without 
a thought of his rider, to avoid a perilous passage ; or were 
I to indulge in general description, I should be tempted to 
portray many a giant of the forest, felled by the irresistible 
hurricane, and shivered by the fierce Ughtning of heaven's 
awful thunder-storm, and would try to give some idea of 
that sense of helplessness, in the all-encompassing silence 
and solitude, which is felt when left for a few minutes 
alone, waiting for the guiding sound of the horn to collect 
our scattered forces — but I forbear. We at length reached 
Granville, a small village, situated at the Long Saut Ra- 
pids, on the Ottawa river, whose beautiful face we were 
again gratified to behold. Previously to our arrival, as the 



196 THE RIVER OTTAWA. 

night began to cast its darkness over us, I was repeatedly- 
amused by the effect of the fir e-fiies. Thousands and 
tens of thousands of these little creatures flit about in the 
gloom, and seem to emit sparks of light, which are ever 
and anon enkindled and extinguished. At one instant, I 
could scarcely divest myself of the impression that I was 
approaching the city of Bath, as I have seen it with its 
lamps all lighted, from the top of the hill in coming by 
the western road, so apparently distant were the brilliant 
and beautiful scintillations of light ; the next, however, I 
too surely found myself, not in Bath or England, but in 
the recesses of a Canadian forest ! 

From Granville, we proceeded for a few miles up the 
Ottawa, and relanded on the opposite coast, at Lorignal. 
A project is in embryo, for the construction of a canal of 
400 miles in length, for the purpose of connecting the 
Ottawa with Lake Huron, by which 1000 miles at least, 
of the lake course will be saved. We saw on our way 
several timber rafts, of which many are floated down the 
river. They are sometimes of great extent and value. 
They build small huts of bark upon them, as temporary 
habitations ; six of these were erected on one raft. They 
also set up planks perpendicularly to catch the wind, and 
operate as sails. The storms frequently spread great 
devastation among them, and occasion loss of property, 
sometimes of life. When I was at Montreal, a thousand 
pounds worth of this description of property was destroyed 
by a hurricane. 

Our next object was Bredalbane, in the forest region 
of Glengary, which had been distinguished as another 
scene of the revival of religion. In general, the country 
through which we passed, was thinly peopled, and places 
of worship were distant. In fact, the whole presented an 



BREDALBANE. 



197 



aspect both of natural and moral desolation. After no 
inconsiderable toil, we had the satisfaction of reaching our 
destination. Measures were taken as before to collect the 
people. It is a Gaelic settlement, and in that language 
their valued minister, Mr. Fraser, always preaches to 
them, though both he and. they are acquainted with Eng- 
lish. This happily facilitated our intercourse, while it 
was occasionally necessary to refer, through their pastor, 
to their own modes of expression, in order to ascertain 
with accuracy, the idea intended to be conveyed. 

When, in 1834, Mr. Fraser was set apart to the pas- 
toral office, the church did not appear to be in a vigorous 
state ; but some good was effected, even at that time, in 
consequence of the appropriation of the greatest part of 
two days to public worship. One young man, in particu- 
lar, appeared to be converted to God ; and he subsequently 
became the instrument of enlightening others. Afterwards, 
the church, at the instance of the pastor, appointed a day 
of fasting and prayer. God was in the midst of them. 
It was a season of deep humiliation for past lukewarmness, 
and solemn resolution for the future, A general concern 
for the salvation of the soul was awakened, and when 
the question was hereafter put respecting the origin of 
their religious emotions, the common answer was, "at 
the time of the fast day/' In the month of October, a 
protracted meeting was held, and the whole settlement 
was affected with the deepest concern. Some instances 
of conversion were peculiarly gratifying. From several 
before me, I select one. An old soldier, who had fought 
under the command of the Duke of Wellington in Spain, 
was among the first to manifest the power of religion on 
this occasion. His countenance had, during the whole 
day, been expressive of the greatest mental distress, and at 



198 BREDALBANE. 

night, when the meeting closed, he said to several friends, 
M O, do remember me in your private devotions, and 
on the morrow." His simplicity and earnestness were 
such, as irresistibly to enforce his request upon every 
person he addressed ; nor was he remembered in vain ; 
for he went to the morning assembly, calm, and happy. 
He said, that after passing the whole night in a state of 
inexpressible anxiety, he went out about five o'clock to 
give vent to his feelings in solitary prayer. On his return 
home, he took up the New Testament, and began to 
read the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John. He 
immediately perceived that Jesus Christ was suited to 
him as a Saviour. He believed and found comfort. It 
was afterwards discovered, that the several persons whom 
he had requested to pray for him, were all engaged devo- 
tionally on his behalf at the very time of his obtaining 
"joy and peace in believing." In the course of the day, 
he stood up in the assembly, and addressed them in so 
artless and affecting a manner, that his narrative dissolved 
them in tears, and was made the means of much lasting 
good. Since that period, he has been a consistent and 
zealous christian. I enjoyed the company of this good 
soldier part of the way to Glenelg. 

Bredalbane is a place never to be forgotten. My inter- 
view with the people was brief, but delightful. Their 
narratives, their emotions, their simplicity, were charming. 
I conversed with them, prayed with them, wept with 
them, and bade farewell — but no; they followed from 
the house, they overtook and surrounded me, the willing 
captives of a pure and spiritual affection ■! The horses 
were preparing at some distance, and though the sun was. 
intense, religion, awakened into exercise by converse as 
we walked along, was "as the shadow of a great rock 



199 

in a weary land." The horses were not ready. They 
paused; and forming themselves into a semicircle, of 
which I was accidentally the centre, I remarked, " Instead 
of parting, you seem to collect as if a sermon were to be 
preached." "And may we not have one 7 " they asked. 
The appeal was irresistible ; and while I discoursed for a 
short time on the words — " I, if I be lifted up, will draw 
all unto me" — they listened — wept — and welcomed a 
doctrine, ever old, yet ever new — the attractive efficacy 
of the cross. We parted again — perhaps for ever in this 
life ; but with the blessed and oft-expressed expectation of 
finally associating in the perfect and blessed state ! 

I had now enjoyed the fairest possible opportunity of 
witnessing the influence of religion on unsophisticated 
minds. It was the first growth of piety in hearts untrain- 
ed by the refinement, and unseduced by the deceptions of 
society ; and it was truly refreshing and instructive, to see 
the genuine teachings of the Spirit, sanctifying the pas- 
sions, and elevating the soul above the world. The effect 
was a wonderful transparency of mind, and an extraor- 
dinary combination of humility, zeal, and holy love. Oh 
how finely did these lilies and roses grow in this garden 
of the Lord in the desert ! 

Mr. Fraser accompanied us on foot, six miles through 
the forest to Glenelg, where we found a lodging at the 
house of a Highlander who had come two-and-forty years 
before, to carve out a subsistence for himself in the then 
unexplored wilderness. He could not speak English in- 
telligibly, nor we Gaelic ; so we speedily retired to rest. 

At another place in our further advance through this 
Wild region, called Pries fs Mills, a very different state 
of things existed from that which we had recently wit- 
nessed at Bredalbane. The corderoy roads were but in 



200 FORT COVRINGTON. 

harmony with the rude and barbarous condition of the 
people. Vice and superstition go hand in hand there, 
and spread moral ruin. In the sober seriousness of folly 
they assemble annually to practise one of the greatest ab- 
surdities that ever entered into the human mind. Magis- 
trates and people alike infatuated go forth in battle array, 
penetrate the forest, and with all the farcical solemnity of 
a savage barbarism, proceed with muskets, to fire, as they 
express it, at the devil ; and then fence with swords, 
as if it were a real and visible contest. Their ignorance 
and irreligion are such, that they will fiddle and sing 
Highland songs even when the priest is in the pulpit, and 
as a part of worship. It seems as if superstition sat here 
at ease on her throne, as conscious of security amidst the 
fastnesses of the inaccessible wilderness. 

We proceeded through Alexandria to William's Town 
and Lancaster. In the midst of fine forests were frequent 
clearances, and excellent farms. We had now veered 
round again to the St. Lawrence. Lancaster is situated 
on a swell of that noble river, which is denominated the 
Lake of St. Francis. We took a small boat, by which 
we were conveyed ten miles indirectly across this lake, 
and five miles up the Salmon river to Fort Covrington, 
the third scene of a remarkable revival of religion, which 
it had been my object to visit. This happy event had oc- 
curred about fifteen months previously to my arrival ; but, 
at this period, the tide of feeling had considerably ebbed. 
Their valuable minister, Mr. Safford, was unfortunately 
absent from home. My temporary residence was at the 
house of Mr. Willis, where I enjoyed free intercourse with 
various friends, and many of the converts. The case of 
one of them furnished a direct evidence of the power of 
prayer. He had been an universalist in theory, and a 



FORT COVRINGTON. 201 

worldling in practice. Religion was, in fact, an object of 
dislike ; its requisitions were resisted ; its principles alto- 
gether misunderstood. u He loved idols, and after them 
he would go." During the protracted meetings, his father 
and mother, who deeply deplored his irreligion, entered 
into an engagement with several others to make their son 
the special object of prayer. He became aware of this ; 
unwonted anxiety followed upon deep and frequent reflec- 
tion. The Holy Spirit illuminated and sanctified his 
mind. Conscience was aroused ; reason was convinced j 
and at length the heart yielded. His danger startled him ; 
the remedy attracted him; he repented, believed, and 
obeyed. All this he told me, with many minute details 
of the various mental operations which had taken place 
during the progress of that conviction, which had now ri- 
pened into the maturity of faith. 

The following occurrence was of a striking character. 
When many hearts were glowing with love to God and 
souls, during this sacred season, it was proposed to arrange 
a visit to every family in the settlement, for the purpose of 
conversing about their religious state, and requesting them 
to attend the meetings for prayer and worship. This 
proposal was immediately acceded to, and carried into 
effect ; each person having his district assigned him. Two 
blacksmiths were living in the town ; both of them noto- 
rious for profligacy and profanation. One could scarcely 
utter a sentence without an oath. They were equally 
notorious for their hatred to each other ; a hatred which 
was continually exasperated by rivalship in business. 
When some of the christian friends went to one of them, 
the man, being aware of their design, left his forge and 
retreated to a back room, for the purpose of escaping from 
his house, that he might not be exposed to an unwelcome 
18 



202 FORT COVRINGTON- 

solicitation. The door was fastened, and in his haste he 
eould not open it before the messengers of mercy came 
into contact with him. Unable to resist altogether the 
courtesy and kindness of the appeal, he stammered out a 
half promise to go to the revival meeting, at least for once. 
In the end, whatever reluctance and even hostility had 
been at first manifested, both were at last persuaded, by 
affectionate and repeated entreaty, to attend. To each 
it was a novel sight ; ' and, to each, the word and ordi- 
nances of religion were blest. From a hesitating compliance 
with the first request of the christian visitors, they became 
frequent, and, at last, constant and eager worshippers. 
Each heart was regenerated ; but neither knew of the 
other's change. One day, they met in the street, leading 
to the place of prayer and praise. Each thought the 
other w^as going from curiosity or for ridicule. They 
paused — a short dialogue ensued, in nearly these terms — 
"I think," said one, "we have been living long enough 
like devils; let us at least try to live like men ; I con- 
fess I have been wrong." " Oh !" replied the other, " I 
too, am wrong ; I see it— I feel it — I have found Christ 
and religion." They wept, and rushed to each other. 
Both had " found the Messiah:" — hands and hearts were 
united — enmity was gone — the love of Christ constrained 
them, and the fellowship of truth united them forever ! 
They hastened together to the assembly ; they soon gave 
evidence of the reality of their faith ; and the wondering 
neighbourhood exclaimed, " This is the Lord's doing, and 
it is marvellous in our eyes ! " Ever since that period, 
they have lived in friendship, and maintained a christian 
consistency of conduct. 



DGDENSBURGH. 203 

Section VI. 
Upper Canada. — Niagara. — Camp Meeting. 

O n leavi ng Fort Covrington, I traversed a musquito wood, 
in the intensest heat I have ever felt, to the Indian village 
of St. Ridges ; whence I proceeded five miles across the 
river in a canoe, impelled by a single Indian, to Cornwall. 
My conductor was unable to speak a word of English, 
The skill with which he drove on the little crazy vehicle, 
as straight as an arrow, and with a swiftness analogous 
to its flight, surprised me. I went up the St. Lawrence 
in a steam-packet to Brockville, where Mr. and Mrs. 
Wenham kindly compelled me to remain for a few days. 
The town, which is beautifully situated on the slope of a 
hill, contains an episcopal and presbyterian church ; 
neither of them, 1 fear, in a very flourishing condition. 

By retracing my course about twelve miles, and cross- 
ing to the American side of the river, I was enabled, in 
company with Mr. Wenham, to visit Ogdensburgh, a 
small but thriving village at the confluence of the Oswe- 
gatche and the St. Lawrence. Neither the presbyterian 
nor the baptist church is large ; but respectable families 
are attached to each of them. Ogdensburgh is in con- 
nexion with twenty-two associated churches, called the St 
Lawrence Association, containing nearly 2000 members. 
The association is in a state of general prosperity. Re- 
crossing the river, we came to Preston, and thence struck 
into the woods. In the district of Augusta I had an op- 
portunity of addressing a large assembly in the school- 
room, of whom some came from the distance of eight or 
ien miles, and one no less than fifteen. This shows at 



204 BROCKVILLE. 

once the moral destitution of the country, and the eager- 
ness of its thin population to receive the word of life. 
After the services, I requested a conference with the people 
who composed the church. About twenty or thirty re- 
mained, from whom I learnt that there had been only 
one addition to their number in two years, and that they 
were without a pastor or the regular worship of God. 
They have preaching on an average, about once in a 
month regularly; at other times occasionally. The 
Lord's supper is administered about once in two months ; 
prayer meetings are held once a fortnight, but are ill 
attended; a missionary prayer meeting is maintained 
once a month on the Sabbath evening. There is also a 
Sunday-school, consisting of forty children, but there are 
others in the neighbourhood under the care of the method- 
ists. About four years ago, fourteen or fifteen were added 
to the church in consequence of a revival meeting. 
Many of those with whom I conversed on this occasion, 
appeared to be persons of ardent piety, valuing the means 
of grace and anxious for a more abundant supply. In 
such remote regions we sometimes read a whole volume 
of the people's history in a single sentence. So it was on 
this occasion. In retiring from the place a young man 
hastened up to me, stretched out his hand, and, with glis- 
tening eyes, exclaimed, "Oh, sir, I had an ague and 
fever, and thought I could not come to-day ; but the ser- 
vices have made me well now ! " 

The bare mention of the distances of some of the 
insignificant hamlets or villages, will give an idea of the 
scanty population, and the wide field that presents 
itself for itinerant labours. Beverly is twenty-five miles 
north-west from Brockville ; Garanoque thirty miles 
west ; Yonge nine miles west-north-west. I was grati- 






KINGSTON. 205 

fied with an opportunity of addressing some christian 
friends and some young people at the Rev. Mr. Smith's, 
who had removed from his ministerial charge at Kings- 
ton to keep a school at Brockville. On the evening 
previous to my departure, I preached in the presbyte- 
rian church. Brockville would be an excellent place 
as a residence and centre of operation for an active 
evangelist, his efforts would be sustained by the co-opera- 
tion of zealous and judicious friends, and the far-stretch- 
ing wilderness would furnish a sphere of illimitable exer- 
tion. 

The voyage from Brockville to Kingston is usually 
performed in the night ; but I was fortunate enough 
to obtain a steam-packet by day, which afforded the 
opportunity of enjoying a view of the celebrated thou- 
sand isles, which at once perplex and beautify the navi- 
tion of the St. Lawrence. Without adverting to its 
great length and width, and its general importance as a 
medium of communication between vast countries, 
inland seas, and the Atlantic ocean, — its intrinsic char- 
acters, its fine sweeps and lake-like expanses, its lovely 
shores, its rich variety of isles, islets, and rocks having 
more or less of verdure, around which play in eternal 
dalliance little whirlpools, eddies and ripples, render this 
one of the most attractive as well as one of the most 
magnificent of the American rivers. Kingston, which 
we reached in a direct course, is another of those towns 
which I should propose as the head-quarters of an itin- 
erant missionary. The place itself is considerable and 
thriving. I had much conversation with Mr. Robinson, 
and also with Mr. Murdoch, the congregational minister 
at Bath, a few miles distant. The methodists are the 
predominant party, and though the baptists would gladly 

18* 



206 



TORONTO. 



sustain their own denomination, they feel it at present in- 
dispensable for the enjoyment of religious ordinances, to 
unite with that body. Were an itinerant fixed in this place 
or vicinity, he might visit Barrafield, a place on the oppo- 
site side of the river wholly destitute, Wolf Island, Am- 
herst Island, and other places. A clergyman is paid fifty 
pounds a year for preaching at the latter, who, I was in- 
formed, delivered about two or three discourses in the 
year, when he could cross on the ice from Bath, the ice 
being at the time very smooth and sleighing very pleas- 
ant. I record this in sorrow, not in contempt ; by no 
means intending to reflect on a whole body of men. 

At Kingston the stranger enters the Lake Ontario, one 
of the mighty chain of inland seas between Canada 
and the United States. Although the smallest of them, 
it is 180 miles long and forty broad. Lake Superior 
is the largest in the world, being 360 miles in length 
and 100 in breadth, comprehending a surfaee of 24,000 
square miles. Owing probably to the general elevation 
of these lakes, they are very subject to storms. I was 
pleased with the beautiful colour and fine taste of the 
water of Lake Ontario, on which I spent parts of two 
days and a night. We touched at Coburg and at Port 
Hope, and at length reached Toronto, the seat of the gov- 
ernment of Upper Canada. Till recently it was called 
York, but it has now acquired its former name, which I 
understood to be an Indian one, signifying u rising out 
of the water." If this were indeed the appellation, it is 
correctly descriptive ; for it is situated on a dead flat on 
the very edge of the lake, and the approach to it is imped- 
ed by a long shoaly level strip of land extending several 
miles. The only redeeming circumstance is, that it 
forms the boundary line of a very extensive harbour for 



FALLS OP NIAGARA. 207 

shipping. The atmosphere I thought dense and heavy, 
but the inhabitants affirm it is a healthy place. It is 
on the very borders of immense forests, into which 
Yonge-street extends fifty or sixty miles ! Although 
there are six places of public worship, the state of relig- 
ion, I am apprehensive, is not at present very thriving ; 
but the methodists are active in the neighbourhood. 

A pleasant sail of four hours across the lake brought 
us to the village of Niagara. The falls are fifteen miles 
farther. Midway is Q,ueenston, situated on the banks 
of the river Niagara, insignificant in itself, but distin- 
guished for Brock's monument, 126 feet in height, 
standing on an elevation of 270 feet. It was erected 
by the legislature of Upper Canada to commemorate 
the death of the commander of the British forces, in 
an action with the Americans on the 13th of October, 
1812, the circumstances of which I have no disposition 
to record. 

What writer ever spent three or four days at the Falls of 
Niagara without attempting to describe them ; who that 
ever saw the rainbow created by the reflected sunbeam 
from the mist-encircled billows — who that ever beheld 
the smoke moving in majesty amidst the still air, like 
the pillar of cloud by day in the wilderness of old, or 
rising and spreading in the gentle breeze of night, like 
an incense to the throne of heaven, now obscuring, now 
reflecting the soft lustre of the moon — Who that ever 
witnessed at such an hour, and alone, the sudden war 
of elements and the flash of the lightning across the 
river, the islands, the woods, the rapids, and the cata- 
racts, and heard the thunder blending its awful voice 
with the everlasting dash and rattle and roar of the 
gathering waters as they fret and foam and rage in con- 



208 FALLS OP NIAGARA. 

vulsive agony, while hurried down the precipice into a 
fathomless gulf — who that ever crossed the fearful pas- 
sages, penetrated the woods of Goat Island, and set his 
trembling foot upon the triangular extremity of the 
wooden bridge on the American side that overhangs 
the great Fall itself, in an unprotected solitariness of 
elevation, where the senses, sight, hearing, feeling, are 
at once overwhelmed, and where insignificant man, 
without wings to assist or sustain his flight, seems in 
adventurous daring to emulate the soaring eagle — who 
that has beheld and felt and wept over this great work 
of Deity, but would wish to convey to others his own 
overwhelming and inextinguishable impressions? — 
But no, I shall not attempt it. Let imagination supply 
the place of description. It is an epoch in existence to 
have seen Niagara ! 

Occasionally some hapless sufferer has been precipi- 
tated down the Falls. The event, however, is rare, but 
it occurred within a short period of my visit, and I be- 
came acquainted with a gentleman who was an eye-wit- 
ness. Two men were attempting to cross from Tona- 
wanta to Chippewa, Upper Canada, when they were car- 
ried by a sudden gust of wind into the rapids above the 
Falls. They immediately deserted their scow or boat, 
and swam for a temporary refuge to the shoals, a mile 
and a half from the shore. On this precarious footing, 
up to their necks in water, they maintained their posi- 
tion amidst the foaming currents for some time, shouting 
aloud for aid. A man named Udell put off to their 
relief, but one of his oars broke, and he was obliged to 
pull back with the other. His brother then made the 
attempt, and succeeded in saving one of them. The 
other, whom my friend saw, swam to a floating log of 



CAMP MEETING. 209 

wood, on which he endeavoured to reach the shore. It 
soon became apparent that his efforts were useless. He 
lifted up his imploring- hands, and strained his feeble 
voice, till, as he swept beyond the reach of human 
assistance, he appeared to lie down in despair and re- 
sign himself to his fate. The irresistible current car- 
ried him on, and he plunged into the dreadful abyss ! 
Of this catastrophe I was repeatedly reminded, by the 
sight of a small piece of rock in the midst of the rapids, 
which, as seen from the terrace of the pavilion, very 
much (at least so I thought) resembles a small boat. 
Again and again was I ready to exclaim, " Oh, why are 
men so full of concern, and so speedily alarmed, when 
temporal life is endangered ; and why, alas ! are they 
so unaffected at the imminent danger of the soul, by 
irreligion and impenitence ! Oh, how careless are they, 
till the very crisis of their fate arrives ! " 

On the 5th of July, I had an opportunity of attend- 
ing a camp meeting of the primitive methodists. It 
was held in the woods, about half a mile from the 
Falls ; but was not upon a large scale. In an open 
space, capable of accommodating, perhaps a thousand 
people, some rough benches were provided, together 
with a temporary stand for the preachers. Several 
assembled, and the congregations fluctuated from be- 
tween two or three to four or five hundred. They met 
at nine o'clock. I heard three sermons in the morning* 
These were delivered with vehemence of manner, and 
as I thought, in several instances, with rather too great 
freedom and coarseness. I hope, however, that some 
of the appeals, which were really cogent, were not una- 
vailable. After the first sermon, another preacher stood 
up, and enforced its sentiments, by reiterated admoni- 



210 CAMP MEETING. 

tions and illustrative anecdotes. This I afterwards 
found to be not uncommon, and, when skilfully man- 
aged, produces a good effect. On this occasion, the 
text had been, ." The wicked is driven away in his 
wickedness ; but the righteous hath hope in his death." 
The preacher, who appended his own observations, re- 
lated his personal knowledge both of a painful and a 
pleasing event. The former, was that of an infidel, 
who had entered into a friend's house, booted and spur- 
red, and in reply to the question, "where are you 
going ? " with a marked and intentional sarcasm upon 
his friend's religion, said, in a style of profane non-cha- 
lance, u I am going to ride to the devil." He had pro- 
ceeded only four miles, when his horse threw him. He 
lived three days. " His groans," exclaimed the preacher, 
" still ring in my ears — he was ' driven away in his 
wickedness.'" The second narrative furnished a re- 
markable contrast. One of their local preachers was 
proceeding to an appointment. A train of wagons, as 
he was crossing a rail-road, ran over him. Both thighs 
were broken, and his head lacerated and bruised. He 
was immediately taken to Sunderland. On the way his 
wife flew to meet him, and when she perceived his 
hopeless condition, inquired with passionate eagerness, 
" John, how is it with your soul ? " " Oh ! " he replied, 
" Oh, my dear, all is well — all is well ! " — and he expir- 
ed. This man had " hope in his death." 

After the second discourse, a two-fold prayer meeting 
was announced ; upon which the ministers divided, and 
sang, as they descended from the platform in two direc- 
tions, " Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched," &c. The 
people also divided and formed themselves into a circle 
round each ministerial party. All sung and prayed 



CAMP MEETING. 211 

alternately ^ several times, within hearing, but without 
much interruption. In one party, two would occasion- 
ally pray at the same time, apparently prompted by the 
intensity of their feeling. To unaccustomed ears, this 
was confusing, and to persons addicted to different 
habits, would doubtless be objectionable ; but to those 
who frequented this assembly, it seemed so familiar a 
practice, that no one manifested surprise ; and the sense 
of indecorousness, which the spectator from afar might 
naturally attach to it, was neutralized in some degree 
by the general appearance of a deep and pervading in- 
terest in these devotions. The prayers were ardent and 
solemn ; but unhappily sometimes contained unmean- 
ing and extravagant expressions. " Help us to get into 
God/' was three times repeated, with similar phrases ; 
as well as the following, — M O that the devil may be 
scared right out of the place ! May the devil be scared 
right out of the field!" This is recorded, not for the 
purpose of exposure, but of caution ; and particularly to 
suggest that leading ministers of the connexion should, 
both for taste and religion's sake, avoid whatever is re- 
pulsive to sensible or cultivated minds, and whatever is 
calculated to sanction the barbarous extravagances of 
ordinary men. 

In the afternoon, other services were conducted, and 
subsequently a love-feast was celebrated in the small 
chapel. On this occasion, they partook only of bread 
and water ; and both ministers and private christians 
related many circumstances connected with their own 
religious experience, or the instances of conversion of 
which they had been witnesses. One of these was very 
striking in its details. The minister who related it was 
one of three brothers, who, in then* successive convex- 



212 NIAGARA. 

sion, had been long and most violently opposed by their 
parents. They met continually, and secretly, at night, 
among the apple trees of the orchard, for prayer ; till at 
length father and mother, with the whole household, be- 
came believers. His two brothers are at this time preach- 
ers of the gospel in the United States. 

The small baptist church at the village of Niagara, 
fourteen miles from the Falls, is in association with 
nineteen others. They have seventeen ordained minis- 
ters and four licentiates. At their recent annual meet- 
ing, held at Somerset, they sanctioned and sustained 
missionary, tract, Sunday school, and educational so- 
cieties ; and passed resolutions for prayer and effort 
against slavery. The district of Niagara extends from 
ten miles above Beamsville, in Clinton (which is within 
fifteen miles of the head of Lake Ontario,) to about forty 
miles south-west of Fort Erie, comprising a circum- 
ference of at least 140 miles. It has only four minis- 
ters, three ordained and one licentiate. Three of these 
have large families, and receive little or nothing for their 
labours. Mr. Winchell went in 1831, and preached for 
some time at Q,ueenston ; but soon extended his efforts 
to Drummondville, or Lundieslane, near the Great Falls. 
In less than a year, a church was formed, consisting of 
more than thirty members, denominated Queenston 
church. After this, he left for Canada, where he la- 
boured till April last, when he returned with many 
tokens of good. Application has been made to the mis- 
sionary board, in New York, to place him there for a 
permanence. In this letter, which I saw, the state of 
things is thus depicted : " We wish to assure you, that 
if suitable missionaries were established in this country, 
and constantly employed, they would soon be able to 



LONDON DISTRICT. 213 

obtain from the people a great part of their support ; and, 
in the course of two or three years, might obtain the 
whole, and even assist the board in sending mission- 
aries to other places." We at once perceive, in these 
few words, the necessities, the capacities, and the dispo- 
sitions of the people. It may be taken as a picture of 
many extensive portions of this country. 

Adjoining the territory called Niagara, is an exten- 
sive region, denominated the London District, the rich-^ 
est, perhaps, in natural soil and productiveness in 
Canada. It is situated between the three lakes, Onta- 
rio to the east, Erie to the south, and Huron to the west 
and north ; and is every day increasing in population 
and rising in importance. Here the substantial farmer 
is cultivating his land, and springing into opulence ; but 
the churches, generally young and feeble, wanting 
ministerial aid, and superintendence. This is a noble 
field for a man of tact and talent. Here, as elsewhere, 
they complain, that on applying to England for help, 
they, are told that they must look to the States on ac* 
count of their proximity ; and on seeking aid from the 
States, they are reminded that they are in the British 
dominions, and should look to English liberality and 
zeal. The complaint indicates the fact — they have 
claims on both, and both should assist them. 

Then, again, there is to the northward the Huron 
tract ; but though it is also fast peopling, there are at 
present only two roads in the country, diverging to- 
wards Gore and London from Goderich. At this place, 
an episcopalian clergyman is resident. Those portions 
of land which were originally set apart as clergy re- 
serves, for the benefit of resident clergymen, are, by a 
recent provincial act, made available only to those who 
19 



214 THE CANADAS. 

were at the time resident. This decision arose from the 
immense influx of poor curates, who were tempted to 
emigrate to secure the advantage of such an offer. At 
this town, there is also a methodist, and a presbyterian 
minister of the Scottish kirk. 

The eye is wearied in looking northward from this 
region to the Indian territory, and thence across the 
Georgian Bay, an outlet of lake Huron, to Mississiaqua 
on the right, and the Great Manitoulin on the left, and 
onward still to unknown regions overspread with lakes, 
swamps, and forests, which may, nevertheless, one day 
be inhabited by yet unborn myriads of our fallen race^ 
whose territories, the religious efforts even of these our 
times, and of us their predecessors, well and prayerfully 
conducted, may be the means of covering with spiritual 
fertility ! 



Section VII. 

General Remarks and Recommendations with Reference to 
the Religious Culture of the Canadas. 

Before quitting the British provinces I would offer 
a few remarks. A brief preliminary statement of the 
nature of the country itself, in its general features, may 
assist in the formation of a correct estimate of its moral 
necessities, and the kind of efforts which may be most 
advisable for its religious melioration. 

Canada is divided into two principal parts, denomi^ 
nated Upper and Lower Canada, by the river Ottawa. 
The former extends to the northward of the great lakes, 
and comprises 140,000 square miles, with 300,000 in- 



THE CANADAS. . 215 

habitants, that is, about two to a square mile ; but since 
they are located on particular spots, and not regularly 
diffused, such an estimate does not at once convey to 
the mind an adequate idea of some vast regions of al- 
most untrodden solitude, and others of comparative popu- 
lousness. From the eastern frontier to Lake Ontario, 
170 miles, the surface is nearly a uniform level of great 
beauty, intersected by innumerable fertilizing streams, 
A ridge of heights, but of no considerable elevation or 
breadth, rises on the northern shores of Lake Ontario, 
from which the land rapidly descends to a level and 
productive tract, extending to Lake Huron. The set- 
tlements are chiefly formed in the finest part of the pro- 
vince, lying between this lake and the river Niagara. 
The soil is attractive to an agriculturist, being a fine 
dark loam, mixed with rich vegetable mould. The 
climate is peculiarly salubrious ; winter being shorter in 
duration and less rigorous than in the lower province, 
the spring earlier, and the summer less intense. Epi- 
demic diseases are rare. The population, generally 
speaking, is of English origin, but the Dutch chiefly 
occupy the vicinity of Burlington Bay, that beautiful 
and celebrated termination of Lake Ontario to the 
west. 

Lower Canada, consisting of 200,000 square miles, 
with 600,000 inhabitants, giving an average of three to 
the square mile, lies north of the St. Lawrence, and 
stretches into unexplored regions. The only section 
that is settled, is the vale of the St. Lawrence, enclosed 
by two ridges of mountains, running from south-west to 
north-east, separating its waters from those of the north- 
ern and Atlantic declivities. The climate is severe, hav- 
ing winter and summer in extremes. The mildest part, 



216 THE CAN AD AS. 

and the most fertile soil, is in the upper and more south- 
erly districts. At Quebec, the seat of government for 
all the British possessions, spring is six weeks later than 
at Montreal, though the distance is only 180 miles. 
The inhabitants of this province are chiefly French, and 
their language is commonly spoken ; of course, the Eng- 
lish, Dutch, and a few other settlers, retain their own. 
French gaiety sparkles on the surface of general society. 
The common people are in a state of great ignorance 
and superstition, being wretchedly deficient in the means 
of education, as well as deplorably destitute of protestant 
preaching. Even where churches do exist, there is a 
frequent destitution of pastors. Catholicism is preva- 
lent, 400,000, at least, ranging under its banners. There 
are two catholic bishops, and about 150 clergy. The 
episcopalians have about twenty-eight or thirty clergy, 
of whom a few are excellent men and ministers. The 
presbyterians of the church of Scotland have six churches 
in Quebec and Montreal ; and in the whole number, 
about forty, and five presbyteries, including both pro- 
vinces. There are, besides, seven or eight others, and 
in the Upper province, a synod of the secession. The 
congregationalists do not probably number more than 
ten or twelve churches in both provinces, with fewer 
ministers. The methodists in both, number 14,000 or 
15,000 in society, and about seventy preachers. A num- 
ber of very small general or free-will baptist churches 
exist in the eastern townships of Lower Canada, a dis- 
trict on the south of the St. Lawrence, bordering on the 
States. These are reached from Montreal, by passing 
through thirty miles of what is termed the French coun- 
try. They comprise many pious people, but are in ex- 
treme want of suitable and regular instruction. Besides 



THE CANADAS. 217 

these, there are from fifteen to twenty calvinistic 
baptist churches, almost destitute, however, of settled 
pastors. Mr. Gilmore says, " I know one township in 
which there had not been preaching for seven years ; 
a missionary paid them a visit, and the whole township 
turned but to hear. He visited them a year afterwards, but 
during the interval, they had not heard a sermon. T«he 
main efforts have been made by a very pious and zealous 
young man of the name of Hayt, who has been very active 
in establishing Sunday schools, and supplying families 
with copies of the Scriptures. Without missionaries, 
however, these schools will assuredly languish and die." 
I have already mentioned my visit in another direction, to 
the Highland settlement, under the pastoral direction of 
Mr. Fraser, and to some other places. These are few 
and scattered. In the Upper province, there are four 
baptist associations, comprising between sixty and 
seventy churches, and forty ministers, many of them 
very dependant in circumstances, and unlearned men ; 
but they are beginning to value, and their people to pa- 
tronize, educational societies. Both in the Upper and 
Lower provinces, there is a great deficiency of Sunday 
schools ; and in the former, a considerable division of sen- 
timent, some tending to arminianism, and others to an- 
tinomianism. 

In the report of the Canada Education and Home 
Missionary Society for 1834, a comparison is instituted 
between Canada and New England, which justly re- 
presents their relative position. Canada was settled 
nearly at the same time with New England, and drew 
its colonists from a country inferior to none except Eng- 
land in civilization, arts, and enterprise. Canada, in 
its mighty rivers and fertile soil, possesses commercial 

19* 



218 THE CANADAS, 

and agricultural capacities fully equal, if not superior, to 
those of New England. Both colonies, too, were origi- 
nally under the influence of the clergy. No protestant 
country was ever more swayed by its ecclesiastical mem- 
bers, than was New England for the first 150 or 200 
years of its existence. In Canada, the influence of 
popish priests has always been extensive and powerful. 
They grew up side by side. If ever, therefore, there 
was an experimentum crucis, to determine the legiti- 
mate and diverse influences of pure popery and pure pro- 
testantism, here is one. 

Now, mark the difference — New England grew and 
improved ; schools and colleges sprang up in the forest ; 
its population increased with a rapidity which almost de- 
fied calculation. From her bosom she has sent out 
swarms of industrious settlers to the south and west. It 
was the spirit of New England, infused into the whole 
nation, which has made America a nation of enterprise, 
intelligence, and piety. Traverse the cities and towns 
of New England, you find the most prominent and 
splendid indications of prosperit}'-, industry, activity, and 
power. The cities rival their European compeers in 
commerce, wealth, and advancement. In the country 
villages, the appearance of the fields, the cattle, and the 
farm-houses, manifest a high degree of taste, judicious 
management, and comfort, approaching to luxury. In 
every town, even the most obscure, several schools are 
maintained nearly all the year ; and so generally is edu- 
cation diffused, that an adult, born and bred in New Eng- 
land, who cannot read and write, is almost a prodigy. 

In every nook and corner, where a water privilege is 
found, there springs up a manufactory, built and ma- 
naged by native artists, creating wealth and beauty in 



THE CANADAS. 219 

gome of the most barren townships. The whole cha- 
racter of the population is that of acuteness, activity, and 
intelligence. Colleges of every grade, almost lite- 
rally swarm in every part of the country. Now ob- 
serve, it is the influence of an evangelical protest ant 
clergy which lies at the root of New England character, 
enterprise, and knowledge. They founded her col- 
leges, and educated her sons, and used the power which 
their piety and education gave them} to elevate, to en- 
lighten and to free. 

Look at the contrast presented by the sister colony. 
Canada has advanced but slowly in population, having 
increased only 500,000 in 200 years. It must be recol- 
lected that she has never been subject, like New England, 
to a drain from emigration, but has retained all her sons 
in her own bosom. She has no manufactures, except a 
few of the articles of most ordinary necessity. Lately, 
schools are established in the country parishes, under 
the authority of a recent act of parliament ; but at pre- 
sent, in the catholic portions of the province, they are 
few in number, and miserably low in point of character. 
Until recently, it was almost true that there were no 
schools for the common people of the French Canadians, 
out of the cities of Montreal and Quebec ; and in Lower 
Canada, not one in twenty of the French Canadians 
could read and write. 

Now as to Montreal. Its population is from 27,000 
to 30,000 ; 15,000 of whom are of French extraction, 
all Roman Catholics; there are very few exceptions. 
There is a French protestant missionary from Switzer- 
land among them. He meets with much opposition, 
but there have been a few conversions. There are 
about 3,000 Irish catholics besides ; making the catholic 



220 THE CANADAS. 

population about 18,000, or say 20,000. There are then 
about 10,000 protestants. To supply the spiritual ne- 
cessities of this part of the population, are the following 
means: three episcopalian ministers, three church of 
Scotland ministers, one American presbyterian minister, 
one of the United Associate Synod of Scotland, one con- 
gregational minister, and one baptist, a free church of 
the congregational order, arid two methodists. 

It is with great pleasure I bear my humble testimony 
to the zeal and activity of the methodists, both in Cana- 
da and the United States. They have penetrated the 
wilderness, and brought several places into a state of spi- 
ritual cultivation. With characteristic ardour, they have 
here, as elsewhere, acted as pioneers of the protestant 
army, who have, however, scarcely yet begun to follow 
in the track of their enterprising labours. I have found 
methodists both where others have and have not attempted 
to penetrate. I have seen them active, 1 believe them to 
be sincere, and I know them to be useful in every part 
of America. They have many slanderers, and few imi- 
tators. 

The different classes of the people in Canada may be 
reached by different means, and the application of those 
means must be determined by a view of those peculiari- 
ties which belong to general society in all countries, and 
those in particular which characterize the population of 
the British provinces. There are, for example, the gay, 
the busy, and the cultivated inhabitants of cities ; the 
scattered and untutored occupants of the villages or the 
wilderness ; the middle ranks of the more agricultural 
districts, on the one hand, and the workmen and wan- 
derers, down to the lowest grade of existence on the 
other. Although there is a great preponderance of popu- 



THE CANADAS. 221 

lation in Lower Canada belonging to another nation, 
with a different language from our own, where the 
Roman Catholic religion has taken a powerful hold, yet 
the most useful efforts may probably be made, in the first 
instance, among those of our own country. 

Canada requires a particular order of instrumentality. 
This should be studied. In the first place, attention 
should be paid, in the selection of agents, to physical 
capacity. The scattered state of the population in the 
country is such as to require continual and exhausting 
effort ; so that it must be at once obvious, that a person 
of a weak frame and feeble constitution would be inade- 
quate to such a ministration. He would be insufficient 
to the mere toil of going from place to place, and suffer- 
ing the privations of an ambulatory life. In addition to 
this, the severities of the climate demand robust strength 
and a vigour of animal spirits to sustain them. This 
would involve, to a certain degree, the necessity of em- 
ploying those who are either natives of the soil, if such 
can be procured, or who, from residence and habit, hav- 
ing become inured to the winter's cold and the summer's 
heat, would possess the additional advantage of famili- 
arity with the habits of the country. It would, besides, 
be the most economical plan ; though neither this nor 
probably any other consideration, ought to preclude alto- 
gether a foreign agency. 

In the next place, Englishmen rather than French- 
men or Americans should, I apprehend, be sought for 
this employment. In Lower Canada, it is true, the 
French language is prevalent, but those who speak 
English are sufficiently numerous to absorb the undivided 
labours of many agents. If, indeed, they were able to 
converse in other European dialects, it would greatly 



222 ' THE CANADAS. 

facilitate their intercourse and conduce to their influence, 
but it is not of primary importance. Americans are 
usually, in most respects, men of the right stamp, but as 
the Canadas are under the British government, and the 
people in general have strong political prejudices, an 
Englishman would have the readiest access to the ear 
and the feelings of the multitude. 

Further, the preachers for Canada should be intelli- 
gent, and well taught in the fundamental principles of 
the gospel. The former is desirable on two accounts ; 
first, because men of intelligence inhabit the chief towns, 
and many emigrants are diffused over the country, who, 
though depressed in circumstances, are often not defi- 
cient in sound sense, or entirely devoid of cultivation : 
and, secondly, because a greater degree of refinement in 
the teacher than is generally prevalent amongst the 
hearers, would tend at once to elevate the tone of man- 
ners and secure the exertion of a powerful and beneficial 
influence, both moral and religious. In a country, too, 
where society is so much in its elements, where there is 
so great a destitution of spiritual means, amounting in in- 
numerable instances to an absolute famine of the word 
of God, and where the catholic religion has obtained a 
seat and sanction, the primary doctrines of the gospel 
should be well understood and judiciously treated. The 
force of appeal should be well sustained by instruction in 
the principles of truth, so that the sinner may be abased 
and the Saviour exalted. Let the tale of Calvary be 
plainly told and pointedly applied. 

The very nature of the case and the condition of the 
country, seem to require also a tact and skill in conversa- 
tion. Those who are called to labour must necessarily 
live much amongst the people. They must penetrate the 



THE CANADAS. 223 

recesses of the forest, enter their log-houses as well as 
superior dwellings, and be capable of winning the atten- 
tion and inspiring the confidence of parents and chil- 
dren. They must not only be ministers, but compani- 
ons. The pomp of office, unsuitable any where, would 
be singularly inappropriate and repulsive here* The 
pure and exalted love of souls must be the all-absorbing 
sentiment, and the preacher mast be ever and fully ac- 
cessible. It follows as a matter of course, that the 
itinerant of Canada should be able to accommodate him- 
self to the privations of a log hut, and be willing to per- 
form those little offices of domestic or personal comfort, 
for which, in another state of society, we are usually de- 
pendant on inferiors. 

The christian temper is indispensable. In the more 
rude and distant parts, it is not improbable that the best 
intentioned and best directed efforts may have to encoun- 
ter a vulgar opposition. Among certain classes, occa- 
sionally abounding in the refuse of European society, 
among squatters and lumber-men, there may often be 
demonstrations of character, that can be encountered 
only by patient perseverance in well-doing, and the 
maintenance of a good temper. In addition to this, 
there may be difficulties of another kind. Whatever 
space a thinly-inhabited country may afford for separate 
and independent exertions, there will be occasional con- 
tact, and without the cultivation of a holy temper, there 
may be unhappy collisions, with persons of other deno- 
minations than our own. An unyielding disposition, 
or a proud sectarian spirit, might prove exceedingly 
detrimental to the general cause. Every point of truth 
may be maintained without compromise, and equally 
without bigotry. The labourers in the Canadian field 



224 THE CANADAS. 

ought to be men of an amiable spirit ; amiable at the 
core, amiable by nature. This is the more needful, be- 
cause of the association of labour into which, in some 
cases, they must be almost necessarily brought. And I 
am reminded by this observation of a singular advan- 
tage with which the efforts in question will be attended 
in those remote regions. District school-rooms are 
widely distributed, and to these rooms all parties have 
access for the purposes of religion. Here the people 
may at any time be convened for the worship of God, 
and in them they have frequently been accustomed to 
listen to the occasional addresses of the passing itinerant 
of whatever denomination. These accommodating 
buildings may long subserve the purposes of a christian 
itineracy, without incurring the expense of other erec- 
tions. True religion, in her earlier days, may have a 
pleasant and sufficient lodging in the wilderness. In 
her growth and maturity more important edifices may 
be requisite for a multiplying population ; but at present 
these may be freely occupied as the nurseries of piety 
and the oratories of devotion. 

The service in question demands, that those employed 
in it should not only be temperate men, but advocates of 
temperance. The societies formed for the promotion of 
this cause are numerous, nourishing, and increasing. 
They are striking their roots in every part of America, 
sending their ramifications through the length and 
breadth of the land, and twisting the fibres of their in- 
fluence round almost every family and individual. As 
excess in the use of ardent spirits has been the moral ruin 
of the country, by a natural reaction the advocates of 
this cause have now begun to demand an extreme ab- 
stinence. Every thing but water has been interdicted. 



CANADA. 22& 

and there have been symptoms of interference, in some 
places, with the vinous beverage of the Lord's supper. 
In a country so extensively uncleared as Canada, there 
are peculiar temptations to indulgence in intoxicating 
drink; whoever, therefore, proposes to promote their 
spiritual interests should, by his own example, precept, 
and ready combination with others, aim also at their 
moral regeneration. 

It is of great importance to usefulness, that agents 
should be exempt from strong national prejudices. As 
there is continually, and will doubtless increasingly be 
an influx of foreigners from different countries, and some 
from the United States, on account of their proximity 
and the advancing prospects of the country, they should 
be careful of insisting upon comparisons which might 
seem disparaging to the country whither they are sent ; 
and above all things, remembering their high and holy 
avocation, scrupulously avoid sinking the preacher in the 
politician. 

The itinerants of Canada should be men of great 
personal piety and prayer. All the religious movements 
in America, which have received the name of revivals, 
have begun in devotion. The result of every inquiry j 
and every observation, proved corroborative of this 
fact. By prayer, as a means, it may be said, religion 
has been planted where it does exist, in the wilderness, 
and by prayer, it has been fostered in the more popu- 
lous vicinity. The gift, as well as the grace, seems 
peculiarly demanded in such a land, both to originate 
and extend a valuable impression. A very palpable 
deficiency iu this respect, whatever other talents might 
be possessed, would greatly disqualify, if not totally inca- 
pacitate, for this peculiar mission. 

20 



226 CANADA, 

It would appear almost superfluous, after what has 
been stated, to add, that those who engage in this ser- 
vice, ought to be men of energy and activity. It should 
not be, however, the mere energy and activity of an em- 
ploy e> of one who works for hire or for fame. They must 
not be men, who are governed solely or chiefly by calcula- 
tions of mere duty or reward. They must be stimulated by 
the inward feeling, the fervent and the vestal flame of love 
to God and man. They must be men who will not 
sleep, — not because they must not, but because they 
cannot. The spirit of self-denial, and of incessant zeal, 
must constitute the element of their action, and thus in- 
spired, they will "glorify God with their bodies and 
spirits, which are his." 

It seems implied in the preceding statement, that the 
efforts for Canada should be chiefly of a missionary 
character ; and such, in truth, they must be, but not 
exclusively. Every labourer need not be entirely itine- 
rant, but every labourer, though he be stationary, must 
have a missionary spirit. If he become a pastor, and 
gather a church in one place, he must still be locomo- 
tive. Whatever post he may occupy as his home, he 
must never forget there is a large field around him 
which requires to be cultivated, and like his divine Mas- 
ter, he must go forth and sow the imperishable seed. 
The adags of Solomon is here peculiarly applicable — 
" There is that scattereth and yet increaseth : and there 
is that withholdeth more than is met, and it tendeth to 
poverty." By diffusive efforts any one station may be 
increased in efficiency and in numbers ; while a selfish 
and monopolizing spirit will infallibly diminish strength, 
and deteriorate piety. Whatever place is occupied, it 



CANADA. 227 

should be regarded but as a centre, and the circum- 
ference of operation should be as extended as possible. 

Suppose it were determined to adopt measures for the 
spread of the gospel in Upper and Lower Canada. I 
would then submit the following plan to those who 
might feel interested in the object. Select five places, 
as central stations, in each of which a qualified agent 
should be fixed. Let these be Toronto, Kingston, 
Brock ville, Montreal, and Quebec. Both the Canadas 
would thus be comprehended in the benevolent and 
christian aim ; but if one more agent were to be em- 
ployed westward of Toronto, it would be very advan- 
tageous ; in this case let a town be chosen in the London 
District, or in that of Gore. In these primary points, 
agents of the stamp already described should be settled ; 
that is, settled as to residence, but from which they 
should go forth to evangelize the wilderness. Thence 
let them, as often as possible, proceed in all directions to 
"preach and teach the gospel of the kingdom." They 
might hold meetings in school-houses, visit families, dis- 
tribute bibles and tracts, combine the scattered elements 
of religion, inspirit and extend infant churches if they 
existed, and, if not, aim by conversions to form them. 
By directing their exertions especially towards each 
station, on the right and left, religion, it might be hoped, 
would extend till they met from opposite points, and a 
vast tract of country in time, and perhaps with a divine 
blessing at no distant time, be replenished with christian 
families and churches. As opportunity offered, inter- 
mediate stations might be occupied, and as the tree of 
life flourished and bore fruit, still other spots might be 
chosen in different directions, each becoming a centre 
round which new labourers might move in orbits more 



228 CANADA. 

or less extended, till the desert should blossom, and spi- 
ritual verdure cover the once desolate and barren wild. 
Direct and vigorous efforts should be made to implant, 
or if implanted, to revive religion in the principal places 
named, in order that, after the first missionaries were 
fully employed, they might send forth converted and 
instructed individuals from among themselves. These 
might penetrate more distant places, and unite their 
efforts in the common cause. Who that has witnessed, 
and what christian that has heard of the spiritual neces- 
sities of the Canadas, but will cherish the desire, and 
assist in the aim to diffuse among them the doctrines of 
salvation ? Amidst our abundant means, can we reflect 
without sympathy on the infrequency of the means of 
grace, even among those who are constituted into little 
churches there ? Can we glance even for a moment at 
the multitudes, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh, — 
Europeans, Englishmen, friends, — who have been 
driven, by the afflictions of life or other circumstances, 
into a region so destitute, without seeking to supply 
them with christian instruction ? Can we think with- 
out some practical effort for their relief, of vast regions, 
which, from natural and national alliance, have such 
claims upon us, thousands of whose scattered people 
have no bibles, no Sabbaths, no preachers, and who are 
li without God in the world ?* I might specially appeal 
to my own denomination, on the ground of the present 
being an important crisis, and a rich opportunity ; but 
for all protestant and evangelical parties there is a wide 
field of labour. No one has really yet gone up to pos- 
sess the land. There let a pure and a protestant faith 
unfurl her standard in the cities or in the depths of the 
forest. The crucifix blazes, but where is the cross? 



NOVA SCOTIA. 229 

Scarcely visible. Let Britain aid to rear it high. It is 
a missionary enterprise, and demands a missionary zeal. 
If the separate efforts of denominations be best, let them 
be made. There is a preparation for them in the wishes 
of the people, in their pledged co-operation, and the sub- 
siding of the warfare of political elements. There is, 
moreover, a preparation in the existance of a few well- 
adapted and willing agents ; and, may it not be said, 
too, in the kindling sympathies at home, which have 
been excited by recent communications ? Is not a colo- 
ny our second country ? Do politicians complain of the 
restlessness of the people, and the difficulty of controlling 
the conflict of opinions and the partizanship of ambitious 
minds ; and shall we not throw the moral leaven of 
Christianity into the fermenting mass, and establish a 
sound and successful government in the hearts of a chris- 
tianized people ? Surely we can send some crumbs from 
our richly-spread table to save the multitudes there, who 
are " perishing for lack of knowledge ! " 

At the moment of passing these sheets through the 
press, an interesting communication has reached me 
from the Rev. E. A. Crawley, a valued minister at Hali- 
fax, in Nova Scotia, whose repeated requests to visit that 
country we were compelled to decline, from the necessity 
of returning direct to Europe. The substance of this 
letter, containing a reply to some inquiries, will be a very 
natural and important appendage to the preceding nar- 
rative and appeal on the subject of Canada, and com- 
plete the general moral survey of the British dependerv 
cies in North America. 

" General Remarks. — The countries to which my 
remarks will principally relate are the three governments 

20* 



230 NOVA SCOTIA, 

or provinces of Nova Scotia, including Cape Breton, 
£few Brunswick, and Prince Edward's Island. All 
these possess a constitution, British in miniature, of 
governor, council, and assembly. Their population i3 
estimated somewhere about 450,000, or perhaps half a 
million. The different denominations we rate in Nova 
Scotia as follows : episcopalians, 25,000 ; presbyterians, 
kirk and secession, 40^000 ; catholics, 25,000 ; metho- 
dists, 10,000; and 25,000 baptists. In New Bruns- 
wick the catholics are perhaps fewer, the other propor- 
tions much the same. In Prince Edward's Island the 
catholics, I imagine, preponderate. Immigration into 
these countries is chiefly of Scotch and Irish, some few 
English and Welsh. I can find no statement of their 
numbers, but doubtless a very considerable portion of the 
multitudes who flow constantly to America visit these 
provinces. The trade of New Brunswick is chiefly in 
timber ; that of Nova Scotia in fish, oil, coal, and gyp- 
sum ; that of Prince Edward's Island in agricultural 
produce, carried to the various lumbering and fishing 
establishments in the sister provinces, and to Newfound- 
land. . Constant intercourse is kept up between Nova 
Scotia and the mother country, by means of the monthly 
government packets to Falmouth, by passage packet- 
ships to Liverpool, and private merchant ships to various 
ports, and between New Brunswick and England by 
the timber ships. Constant intercourse also, is had with 
the United States by land and water ; by land a con- 
stant weekly communication with Quebec, and, except 
in winter, by water. It is a fact, however, that while 
in England all these countries appear to be indiscrimi- 
nately included in the one name Canada, our inter- 



NOVA SCOTIA* 231 

course with Canada is but scanty ; far less than with 
the mother country, or with the United States. 

" The Baptists. — Our denomination originated about 
forty or fifty years ago, and now numbers about 6000 
members of churches in Nova Scotia and in New Bruns- 
wick, besides some in Prince Edward's Island and Cape 
Breton. The number of churches is ninety or a hun- 
dred, formed into two associations, that of Nova Scotia, 
and that of New Brunswick. A great portion of these 
provinces is, as may be supposed, exceedingly rude, con- 
sisting of young settlements planted in the forests, where 
the population is thinly spread and the mode of life hard 
and uncultivated. To this condition of the people, God 
in his mercy adapted his kind providence. None among 
the better classes in other parts of the provinces had 
compassion on the spiritual wants of these remote 
places, for in every other denomination, at that day, 
evangelical religion was unfashionable (the methodists 
then had hardly an existence here.) None had pity on 
them in the other provinces, for they were in a similar 
or worse condition. None in the United States or the 
mother country (as we still love to call it, though hardly 
our mother in religious matters,) for they either knew 
not the condition of these countries, or were too much 
occupied with their own affairs to notice it. In this 
necessitous condition, a spirit descended on some of our 
plain country people, in some respects, perhaps, not un- 
like that which stirred the " herdsmen of Tekoa." Men 
of strong heads and warm hearts, in many cases, but 
plain in manner and utterly untaught in human lore, 
began to feel burthened with the sins and threatening 
ruin of immortal souls ; and with alternate labour, to 
eke out a scanty subsistence, and oftentimes with long 



i 



232 NOVA SCOTIA. 

journeys on foot, perhaps with snow shoes on the surface 
of snow many feet deep — a most toilsome movement — 
they sought out the remote and scattered settlements, 
and preached the word of life. Thus arose our churches, 
and thus, with some trifling improvements, they con- 
tinue. In numbers their progress has been great. In 
1829, the number of church members in Nova Scotia 
was 2255, it is now 4549. Augmented now to a con- 
siderable body, the baptists in these provinces are plainly 
called to united and vigorous action for the enlargement 
of their churches. They have a small home missionary 
society, both in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In 
Nova Scotia they give something to foreign missions in 
Burmah ; and in both provinces there is an education 
society and a sort of academy, literary and theological 
combined. Horton academy in Nova Scotia has been 
in operation since 1829. Frederickton academy, in 
New Brunswick, is preparing, but not yet in operation. 
" Horton Academy. — The object of this institution 
was to provide the baptists and others with the means 
of education for their sons, cheap and efficient, and free 
from irreligious and vicious influence. The poor, and 
those scrupulous of the morals of their youth, w^ere ex- 
cluded for the most part from other places of education, 
by the expense, and the exposure as to moral influence. 
Another object was to draw the attention of the minis- 
ters to the necessity of mental cultivation. The coun- 
try was improving fast, and this daily was becoming 
more important. Besides fifty or sixty ordinary scho- 
lars there are generally a few young men at this aca- 
demy studying with a view to greater efficiency in the 
ministry. And in several who have been unable to 
visit Horton for instruction, a desire of improvement has 



NOVA SCOTIA. 233 

been awakened, which has led to a very visible improve- 
ment in many of the ministers. Frederickton academy 
originated in imitation of Horton academy, and is pur- 
suing the same course. As there is a strong dissenting 
interest in the house of representatives of Nova Scotia, 
Horton academy has had for several years an allowance 
of 300/. currency from the provincial treasury. This is 
occasionally lost, however, (for it is not a permanent 
grant) by the opposition of our little lords of the coun- 
cil, where the bishop of Nova Scotia is a member, and 
has much influence. This sometimes involves us in 
great difficulty. For such academies cannot be support- 
ed by tuition money, and meet the wants of the people 
in country places. Considerable sums have been sub- 
scribed by our poor people, scattered over the country, of 
which about 1000/. have been collected. Horton aca- 
demy has neat and commodious buildings, but carries 
a debt of about 2000/., which we are labouring to wipe 
off by constant appeals to private benevolence. If any 
benevolent heart were disposed to assist this institution, 
donations of books would be very acceptable, such as an 
encyclopedia, standard works in divinity, the popular 
cabinet libraries, &c, &c. If the necessity of such sup- 
plies be felt even in the institutions of the United States, 
much more may it be expected in these distant provinces. 
If any one were still more liberal, assistance towards 
the maintenance of a theological tutor would be of in- 
estimable value ; but this will more plainly appear under 
my next head. 

" The Field of Ministerial Exertion. — Many of 
our country churches have grown large, general im- 
provement has taken place in society, and as our older 
ministers pass off the stage, the young ones, unless im- 



234 NOVA SCOTIA. 

proved by study, are not competent to take their places. 
The older men were generally men of strong sense and 
energy ; such only could have grappled with the diffi- 
culties they conquered. Their minds in the midst of 
constant labour were bent on the principles they prac- 
tised, and constant practice, combined with reflection, 
has given them a firm hold of their theological belief. 
The young sons of the field and the forest that arise as 
preachers, are dwarfs to them in theology • they obvi- 
ously need culture, in order to succeed their fathers. 
Hence the importance of a person at Horton devoted to 
this department. Mr. Pryor, the principal of the aca- 
demy, does what he can, but how limited that must be, 
when he has to attend to sixty or seventy boys at the 
same time, I need not tell you. If England would send 
us an amiable and sensible and pious man, competent 
to such an office, and sustain him, which might be done 
at 150/. sterling, per annum, he might fill a most useful 
sphere. Besides the churches already formed, large 
districts in all the provinces above named form an inter- 
esting and important missionary field. Here are the 
children of Great Britain, or the offspring of her sons, 
who were driven from the mother country by ' chill 
penury,' or who from attachment to her government 
and constitution, fled hither from the storm and triumph 
of the revolution in America, and thereby were removed 
from abundant religious advantages into a land of al- 
most total darkness. Large and growing districts 
abound, which rarely hear the gospel preached. Around 
our shores are innumerable bays, inaccessible by land, 
where a population, sunk in ignorance, is rapidly in- 
creasing in numbers, hardly ever visited by a minister 
of any denomination ; all which form a field as truly^ 



NOVA SCOTIA. 235 

Missionary as India or Japan. Whether it is less Eng- 
land's duty to seek out and foster these her banished 
sons, we leave it to her to decide. 

" How may this Field be occupied ? — Almost the 
Only way in which the mother country could help us, 
would be by assisting us to help ourselves. It is true, a 
few places present spheres which Englishmen might 
occupy ; as of teachers at the seminaries, and pastors of 
the churches in towns. At St. John's, New Brunswick, 
an excellent English brother, Casewell, from the late 
Mr. Saunders's church, Liverpool, is now pastor of the 
baptist church, and will, I trust, be very useful. A 
minister, too, as a sort of general visitor, to teach in the 
more easily accessible parts of the country, and preach 
and communicate to England a particular account of 
its condition, would be very useful. But, mainly, our 
labourers must be our own men. None but these would, 
or perhaps we may almost say, could dive into the re- 
cesses of our forests and bays, live in log huts, accommo- 
date themselves to the coarse manners and coarser fare of 
the people, and win their confidence and affections. A 
man of energy might do it once or twice ; we need men 
who will do it constantly. Our own men, somewhat 
improved in knowledge, and kept where they are as to 
hardness and endurance^ are, humanly speaking, the 
only implements for the work. With a little help, we 
should meet our wants as to men, by a system of man- 
ual labour, in connexion with study, which is usefully 
practised in many parts of the United States, and which 
would possess the fourfold advantage of lessening ex- 
pense, preserving health, guarding against the admis- 
sion of any who might seek the ministry from an indo- 
lent dislike of hard work, and removing from the minds 



236 NOVA SCOTIA. 

of the people the suspicion of this as a motive. But, 
after our men are found, how shall they go ? At their 
own charges is impossible. Our small missionary so- 
cieties cannot reach a wider extent of operation than 
occasional visits, by existing labourers, to whom these 
excursions afford a little help, to eke out the narrow 
pittance their people give. What is wanted more than 
any thing is a fund to send out missionaries, to assist 
feeble churches, and thus occupy the ground which now 
lies destitute. 

" What might England do ?■ — Might she not form 
such a missionary society as that last named ? or rather, 
might not the colonies, thus presenting as they do a 
missionary field occupied by her own expatriated sons, 
come within the scope of the present missionary society ? 
On what principle are the negroes in the West Indies, 
or the heathen in Bengal, more entitled to their chari- 
ty ? The emigrants fled from England, because her 
teeming shores refused and rejected them. They re- 
lieved her burthens by their overflowing ; and now, re- 
mote and forgotten, they must sink rapidly into a hea- 
thenish or worse than heathenish state. If they could 
either send or engage here labourers as missionaries on 
the same standing as other missionaries, and, if neces- 
sary, enlarge the scheme of the present missionary so- 
ciety, it appears to us as if she would not be doing more 
than christian charity reasonably asks. Very similar 
suggestions, I perceive, are made from Canada. There 
is upwards of a million or a million and a half of souls, 
amongst whom must be multitudes in the condition I 
have already described from actual observation. The 
Society for Promoting the Gospel in Foreign Parts sends 
missionaries hither. They do not, however, reach the 



NOVA SCOTIA. 237 

evil. They want soul. The methodists send mission- 
aries, and do good ; but they are tied up by their pecu- 
liar discipline, and are far from filling the field, much 
of which too is baptist in its prepossessions, though so 
neglected. To this answer to the question, What might 
England do ? I add what was mentioned before. Send 
one travelling missionary, if no more, — help Horton 
and Frederickton academies, — sustain a theological 
tutor, — give books : any, or all of these, would most use- 
fully, and I doubt not most pleasingly to the Giver of 
all, employ the overflowings of many a full purse, in a 
country whefe. compared with our penury, money and 
means are abundant. I may as well mention, that 
Halifax, where I live, is a town of about 12,000 inhabi- 
tants. It was 15,000, but has decreased lately. St. 
John, in New Brunswick,, is about the same magnitude, 
and increasing ; besides these, I suppose, there is no 
town exceeding 2000, and few so many. The length 
of the region of which I have written, from Cape North 
to the Passamagurddy, the boundary between Bruns- 
wick and the United States, is about 500 or 600 miles. 
The breadth from Halifax to the Canada line ; above 
St. John, must be about 500. This region possesses 
great natural advantages, from fish, minerals, and tim- 
ber ; also abundant water communication. Excellent 
coal is raised, and exported in considerable quantity. 
It must, in time, become an important and valuable 
country. Its moral and religious character then, of 
course, under God, depends on exertions made now." 



21 



238 



BITFFALO: 



Section VIII. 
From Buffalo to Utica, by the Erie Canal. 

After' leaving Niagara, a day or two of gratifying 
intercourse awaited me at Buffalo ; whence I proceeded 
along the Erie canal, the borders of which are, if I may 
so express it, rich in christian churches. At the Rev. 
S. Tucker's I met with Abel Bingham, missionary to 
the Chippewa Indians. His residence is at Sault St. 
Mary, on the river St. Mary, fifteen miles from Lake 
Superior, and 650 west of Buffalo. He pf*eaches to the 
white people of the fort in the morning, and to the In- 
dians, through an interpreter, in the afternoon. He has 
received seventeen Indians into the church, of whom 
two have been since excluded. Six others, who made 
no public profession, have, nevertheless, died real chris- 
tians. Four Indian children have been buried, of whom 
three had given evidence of piety. James D. Cameron 
was sent out in an unconverted state as episcopal minis- 
ter to the Indians ; but at length becoming a real chris- 
tian, he was baptized, and finally devoted himself to 
missionary labours among them, being conversant with 
their language. He has penetrated 150 miles into the 
interior, and has lately written to Mr. Bingham to say 
that he had a good attendance, and that there was a 
great spirit of inquiry among the Indians. At Saul€ 
St. Mary there has been recently established an episco- 
palian and a methodist church : heretofore no place of 
worship was to be found within 100 miles. 

The Erie canal, 363 miles in length, being, with the 
exception of the Imperial cana] of China, the longest in 
flhe world, runs from Albany along the bank of the- 



ERIE CANAL — ALBION. 239 

Mohawk river to Rome, and thence westward, across 
the head of the small lakes, and over the Genessee river 
to Buffalo. The magnificent conception of this work, the 
general joy expressed at its completion, and the numerous 
advantages whicii distinguish it as an inland communi- 
cation through the state of New York to the western 
regions, it is no part of my business to celebrate j nor 
shall I specify the outward appearance, population, or 
other circumstances belonging to particular towns or dis- 
tricts, or even allow myself to be tempted into any de- 
scription of the Mohawk valley, to which many a former 
traveller has given a just celebrity ; my journey had 
another object. 

The baptist church at Lockpoit, about thirty miles 
from Buffalo, along the canal, consists at present, of 
about 200 members. It is connected with the Niagara 
association. At Mr. Burrough's, at Albion, I met Mr. 
Metcalf, pastor of the baptist church. The next morn- 
ing he accompanied me on a visit to the presbyterian 
minister ; and from their united accounts, I obtained 
much information on the general state of religion. At 
one period revival efforts^ so to speak, hindered revi- 
vals,; the spiritual was absorbed in the fanatical ; but 
notwithstanding the morbid action, and deteriorating 
tendency of a spurious zeal, steady and persevering ex- 
ertions in ministerial labours and pastoral visitations 
have u revived the work in the midst of the years." 
About two years ago, about ten or twelve children join- 
ed the baptist church, whose age varied from eight to 
^eleven. Ten others united themselves to the same com- 
munity, of fourteen or fifteen years old. In general 
ikeir conversion was believed to have taken place at least 
£hree or four months before their profession. Mr. M. 



240 



ROCHESTER. 



has frequently heard them engage at domestic prayer 
meetings, with the greatest propriety of language, and 
the most fervent manifestations of feeling. The real 
revival of religion began with the children. Mr M. 
was heretofore pastor of the church at Sardinin, in the 
county of Erie, where he received many children into 
the church by believer's baptism ; probably about thirty 
in two hundred new members. 

Ten miles farther is the village of Holly, where there 
is a baptist and presbyterian church ; the former was 
established last year. The dimensions of this new 
place are fifty feet by forty. In another five miles you 
reach Brockport, where there is a fine academical institu- 
tion erected by the baptists. It contains ninety rooms 
for the accommodation of students. The baptist, pres- 
byterian, and methodist churches are respectable, and 
the aspiring towers by which the buildings are sur- 
mounted, adorn as usual the beautiful landscape, and 
relieve the wearied eye. 

Rochester, a few miles onward, is a surprising town. 
It has sprung, as by a magic touch, from the forest, since 
1812. It has now, or soon will contain, 20,000 inhabi- 
tants. Among others of magnitude, it has two baptist 
churches, which are incorporated in the Munroe associa- 
tion. The second under the care of Mr. Gallusha, is a 
friendly separation from the first, recently deprived of its 
pastor, Dr. Comstock, by illness. One of the ardent reviv- 
alists, with the assistance of his lady, collected a few months 
ago about 500 children in this place, whom they de- 
scribed as regenerated. My inquiries, amidst conflicting 
evidence, induced the conclusion, that while only com- 
paratively few were converted, and joined the different 
churches, the whole number were for a time assiduously, 



ROCHESTER. 241 

and perhaps successfully instructed by this lady in the 
general truths of Christianity. That these instructions 
may be sanctified in all their hearts, and soon spring 
into evident religion, must be the devout prayer of every 
christian. The different congregations united, and I 
had the opportunity of preaching to a large assembly in 
the second presbyterian church. 

Baptists as well as other churches, though small, are 
established at Men don, Canandaigua, and Geneva, where 
the line of natural beauty, which I will not stay to 
describe, though it be enchanting, with its lovely villages, 
and lovelier lakes, is adorned with moral and spiritual 
verdure. A curious assemblage, or rather a regular suc- 
cession of churches, bordering the street, is seen in Ge- 
neva; episcopal, presbyterian, Dutch reformed, baptist, 
methodist, universalists, Scotch seceders; comprehen- 
sive enough to contain, as is indeed usual, the entire 
population ; but it must be remembered, that the large 
churches in small villages are constructed to accommo- 
date a neighbouring population. I found some excel- 
lent friends at Geneva ; and after preaching there on 
Saturday morning, and in the afternoon twelve miles 
farther at Seneca falls, proceeded to spend the Sabbath at 
Auburn, where the delightful residence of the Hon, 
Judge Garrow, awaited my arrival. As we passed 
along, we heard the inhabitants of a little hamlet sing- 
ing a hymn. This excited my attention and inquiry, 
and I found that all or nearly all the people of the 
oountry learn to sing hymns at the school-houses and 
Sunday schools, and very few can sing a song. This 
speaks volumes for the religious culture of the country, 
•" Happy is that people whose God is the Lord ! " 

21* 



242 AUBURN. 

I could wish that I had space to describe my visit to 
Auburn, but I must content myself with a few lines. 
A new and handsome baptist place of worship is erect- 
ed, in which I preached twice. Doubtless, it contains 900 
or 1000 people. It is destitute of a pastor. My worthy 
namesake, Dr. Cox, took me from the church to his 
house, and I accompanied him to the presbyterian place 
in the evening, where he delivered a discourse on tem- 
perance, and compelled me to a,dd an address. I had 
much fraternal intercourse with my friend, who is now a 
professor in the college at Auburn ; and the next day, vi- 
sited the celebrated penitentiary in company with him, Dr. 
Mills, Mr. Smith the chaplain, and others. I was deeply 
interested — saw the delinquents working at their differ- 
ent trades — inspected their cells — inquired into several 
cases of crime— witnessed their silent dinner, and the 
whole management of this excellent institution. Mr. 
Smith conducts worship on the Sabbath morning, and 
calls at each of their cells for conversation on religion in 
the afternoon. Out of 640 or 650, he considers that at 
least fifty have become real christians. A Sunday school 
of 200, is conducted by the students of the presbyterian 
Seminary. They go beyond the cautious estimate of Mr. 
Smith, and believe that half their class are christians. I 
had an interesting meeting with the students on the 
Monday evening, at which Dr. Cox presided. I address- 
ed and prayed with forty-five young men devoted to 
the christian ministry. May I be allowed to say, we 
parted with tears flowing from all eyes ! Dear and 
distant brethren, farewell ! We have found, as in other 
cases, earth a painful parting place ; after our respective 
(may they be successful !) labours here, we shall find 



SYRACUSE. 243 

heaven a glorious meeting place, and with unspeakable 
joy, shall present the trophies of our ministerial achieve- 
ments at the feet of an approving God ! 

We travelled through Brutus, Elbridge, and Camillus 3 
at each of which places is a congregational and baptist 
church, to Syracuse. A slight accident on the road served 
to illustrate the American character and habits. Our 
poor wagon broke down ; we fled to a miserable looking 
out-house occupied by some wheelwrights, a small house 
adjoining being their home. They devoted two hours 
to us gratuitously, and with pleasure. My name being 
mentioned, we found that they knew at once all my 
movements. Thus do the newspapers penetrate every- 
where, and convey an immense mass of general informa- 
tion and knowledge through every corner of the land. 

Syracuse is a place of stir and business. There are 
three churches, episcopalian, presbyterian, and baptist. 
The latter is under the pastoral care of Mr. Wilkins, 
whom we saw, and has 250 or 260 members, the fruits 
in many instances of a happy revival. At the next 
place, Fayetteville, four miles, there are four churches, 
and the same number at Manlius, two miles further, and 
of the same denominations, episcopal, presbyterian, me- 
thodist, and baptist. The presbyterian and baptist are 
in general the largest places. Mr. Bellamy at Manlius, 
had just left his home on a journey, I could only, there- 
fore, rap at his door ; but could the sound have been pro- 
longed till his return, it would have told him of a brotherly 
interest in his welfare and that of the church. I was 
unfortunate again at the village of Cazenovia, eight miles 
farther in missing our brother Leonard, who had a 
church there of about 240 or 250 members ; but the oc- 
casion of his absence we learnt in a pleasing hour's con^ 



244 CAZENOVIA — LOG CITY. 

versation with his wife. He was gone to confer with 
his co-agent, the Rev. John Peck, and some ministerial 
friends, respecting his new appointment to the Home 
Missionary Society of the State Convention. They are 
to pay a distinct visit to promote the objects of the soci- 
ety, to each of the churches, of which there are upwards 
of 700, in the State of New York. At this place all 
the denominations are in union and attend each other's 
meetings. The revivals have terminated well — in 
sound and lasting conversions. There is, besides, in the 
district of Cazenovia, a church of more than 300 mem- 
bers, under the pastoral superintendence of Mr. Peck. 
I found also a church at Morrisville, where I slept at the 
house of brother Johnson. An hour or two of travel- 
ling in the morning brought us to Log City or Eaton ; 
the change of circumstances having occasioned a new 
name to be given to the village. Log houses, which 
were first erected in this beautiful valley, have now 
yielded to the characteristic buildings of the country, 
white painted houses with green shutters, with churches 
whose tin covered domes sparkle in the sunshine. I 
had a gratifying interview with elder J. Smitzer. He 
has been considerably engaged in revivals, both here 
and at his former residence, the village of Delphi, a 
few miles distant. He read me the covenant which 
they are accustomed to use. It is similar in most of the 
churches, and is renewed once a month. It consists of 
the mutual agreement of members in christian fellow- 
ship, to fulfil the obligations which their relationship to 
each other and to God involves. 

The " covenant meeting," which is held by most of 
the churches once a month, resembles a special church 
prayer and experience meeting. The Saturday pre- 



WATERVILLE. 245 

ceding the administration of the Lord's supper, is the 
evening frequently preferred. 

At Delphi a revival occurred in 1830, when 115 per- 
sons were baptized, besides forty, who joined the metho- 
dist class, and others who united with the presbyterians. 
The whole number of converts amounted to about 200. 
Of these it is observable, that the great majority were 
before not only people of the world, but in many in- 
stances notorious sinners ; and from twelve to fifteen 
children, some at a very early age, became decided in 
religion. The next short stage was Hamilton, of which 
I shall now say nothing, as a full account will appear in 
a subsequent part of this volume, when the delegates 
resume their united narrative. Two days of great inte- 
rest were devoted to examinations and exercises in the 
college, and intercourse with the valued president, 
Dr. Kendrick, and the several professors. 

In my farther progress, I saw Mr. Hartshorne, pastor 
of the baptist church at Waterville. There are, besides, 
two others ; the one presbyterian, the other methodist. 
Some have facetiously proposed to change the designa- 
tion of the town to Whiskeyville, on account of the 
distilleries. The number of these manufactories is 
reduced, but there is no material diminution in the quan- 
tity of ardent spirits produced. Mr. Hartshorne has a 
flourishing church of 170 members, of whom about 
fifty or sixty were the fruit of one year's ministrations. 
Some interesting cases of conversion have occurred here, 
among others the following : A few dissipated young 
men resolved on having a frolic at one of the pro- 
tracted meetings, in which indications of revivals were 
apparent, and the anxious seat was employed. These 
thoughtless worldlings arranged among themselves that 



246 WATERVILLE. 

one of them should pretend to be converted, and that the 
others should play their proper parts in what they in- 
tended to enjoy as a laughable comedy. The solemnity 
of the proceedings, however, disconcerted them. One 
of their number did stop the minister as the first act of 
the awful drama ; but another fell at the anxious seat, 
not in mockery but in prayer, and, after bitter exclama- 
tions of, u What shall I do to be saved ! " obtained a 
hope of forgiveness and eternal life. Shall we limit the 
Holy One of Israel ? Shall we not rather admire the in- 
scrutable mysteries of Providence and grace ; and learn 
not to judge of the divine proceedings by the preconcep- 
tions of our own minds, but by the evidence of fact and 
the principles of Scripture 1 

My separate journey terminated at Utica. 



247 



CHAPTER VIII. 

URNEY IK 

Section I* 

Boston to Pittsburgh. 

Commencing each other to God and to the word of 
his grace, we parted company at Boston, for the month 
of June. The circuit proposed to be described before we 
should reunite, in the beginning of July, in the Northern 
part of the state of New York, or at Toronto, is more 
formidable in appearance than in reality. No part of 
the earth's surface exhibits more marvellous improve- 
ment in the locomotive art. A few years ago, and to 
ordinary travellers the contemplated tour was all but im- 
practicable ; the wild natives of the forest themselves 
would not have dreamed of its accomplishment in the 
short space of five or six weeks ; now, the entire tour of 
the States is an easy excursion. The inhabitants of the 
rocky shores of New England, may leave their homes in 
the early spring, visit the chief cities, and reach the most 
southern attractions^ so as to ascend the Mississippi, and 
diverging from that direct track, see the Indian territory, 
and yet return to the chain of northern lakes before the 
oppressive heat of summer overtakes them. The refresh- 
ing navigation of those inland seas then brings them 
back, ere the icy hand of winter again enchains their 
rivers and canals. This living stream will probably 



248 HARRISBURGH. 

exert an influence upon slave states, and contribute to 
the improvement and security of the Indians, more 
effectually than the tide of permanent settlers. Emi- 
grants in quest of gain soon acquiesce in enormities 
which at first shock them ; but if christian and philan- 
thropic tourists, among the crowds that shall move in 
this vast circle will faithfully express their abhorrence of 
slavery, and protest against all unjust and oppressive 
conduct toward the weak and defenceless, the cause of 
righteousness must ere long prevail. I took my depar- 
ture for Providence, on the 3d of June, and having spent 
the evening and part of the next day with our friend 
Dr. Wayland, I proceeded by the steam-boat to New- 
port. We were here detained by a fog, so remarkably 
dense, as to veil from view every object at the distance of 
only a few yards. I enjoyed an interview with Mr. 
Dowling, the pastor of the baptist church, and saw 
some of his friends — they have been recently blessed 
with great prosperity. I hurried through New York to 
Philadelphia, intending, if possible, to spend the next 
day at Harrisburgh. This was an object of some im- 
portance, in consequence of an engagement to attend 
the ordination of Mr. Wilson, to which Dr. Cox had 
been invited, and which, I feared, might occasion incon- 
venient delay. 

I was greatly indebted to Mr. James, of Philadelphia, 
a deacon of Mr. Kennard's church, for kind attentions, 
by which I was enabled immediately to proceed on my 
journey ; but one disappointment, accident, or interrup- 
tion after another, left me only to regret not having 
remained in that city, or at the flourishing town of Lan- 
caster, which we had not yet visited. 



HARRISBURGH. 249 

On arriving at Harrisburgh, I was most kindly 
received at the house of Mr. Fahnestock. Several 
ministers were expected to attend the ordination, and 
to hold a series of meetings with a view to the revival 
of the church. The baptists are few in numbers ; 
their place of worship is commodious, though not 
large — it is well built, with a school-room underneath, 
and occupies a lovely site on the bank of the river. 
About forty members are united 'in fellowship. The 
prayer-meetings, and the congregation on Lord's-day 
evening were good ; but to a stranger there was no 
indication of any thing to warrant the expectation of 
extraordinary results from the anticipated meetings, and 
the expediency of the attempt struck me as doubtful, but 
it was not possible to await the issue. 

The monthly Sunday-school teacher's concert for 
prayer was held at this time. Some important topic is 
usually discussed, and that appointed was " The im- 
portance of teaching the evidences of religion in 
Sunday -schools? It was proposed by the Rev. Mr. 
De Witt, pastor of the Presbyterian church, in whose 
school-room the meeting was convened, to omit this dis- 
cussion for the purpose of hearing their English visitor. 
At the request of that estimable and devoted christian 
minister, whose labours are a blessing to the whole city, 
I occupied a portion of the time in offering a few re- 
marks, and particularly adverted to the happy suggestion 
of thus extending the range of Sunday-school teaching. 
Mr. De Witt accompanied me to the capitol, and intro- 
duced me to Governor Wolf. At his request also, I was 
permitted to inspect the original deed of grant from Charles 
II. to William Penn. Other parchments were, how- 
ever, of greater interest ; for, what was this munificence 

22 



250 HARKISFBURGH. 

of the royal profligate, so lavish of what cost him no- 
thing, in comparison with the integrity of the upright 
and honest man, who duly paid the Indians an equiva- 
lent for their lands ? It sounds somewhat ludicrous, to 
run over the items delivered by Penn to the Aborigines ; 
but the gentleman who favoured me with a sight of the 
parchments, gave me much information relative to the 
whole transaction ; from which it appeared that it was, 
all things considered, a tolerably equitable transaction. 
Annexed to the names of the savage chieftains, are their 
emblems or devices, drawn by their own hands; the 
shapes of animals, or implements of war, appear rudely 
traced, but not indistinct in resemblance. No doubt 
these figures served among themselves the purposes of 
a royal signet. 

The library is a spacious and rather elegant room ; 
the collection of books, both in law and miscellaneous 
literature, is good : but it would be necessary for the 
eye to become familiar with the views of almost unri- 
valled beauty which the windows command, before a 
profitable use could be made of these fruits of the wisdom • 
of ages. The legislature not being in session, the 
Chambers were in some confusion. Hancock's chair is 
here ; it is the same which this distinguished leader 
occupied when he signed the Declaration of Independ- 
ence. I sat in it while conversing with several gentle- 
men on the desirableness of everlasting peace and union 
between our respective nations. I paid a visit to the 
supreme court, and saw Chief Justice Gibson on the 
bench, assisted by four judges. A cause of some import- 
ance was pleading by Mr. Galbraith. The absence of 
gowns and wigs was not the only circumstance which 
seemed to divest the whole of that solemnity which per- 



HARRISBURGH, 251 

vades our courts, arising, in part, from cumbrous and 
antiquated fashions. In this instance, the counsel 
speaking, was seated, in consequence of lameness ; but, 
in addition to the effect produced by an unusual attitude, 
the speaker was evidently annoyed, by what, perhaps, 
he regarded as inattention in the bench. One of the 
judges continued to pace up and down, at the back of 
the seat occupied by the chief justice, while another oc- 
casionally conversed, so that the counsel paused more 
than once, as if he felt the interruption. Sundry papers 
lay before Mr. Galbraith for occasional reference, and 
very near to them, on the table, appeared (proh pudor !) 
the booted legs of another gentleman of the law. There 
are two galleries in the dome of the centre building, 
which is a lofty and elegant structure, from whence the 
eye commands a fine panoramic view, imposing not so 
much for its extent, as for the richness of the mountain 
scenery. The broad Susquehannah winds its majestic 
course amidst those romantic hills, and, as it sweeps 
along, washes the base of the elevated spot on which 
the building is erected. A spacious avenue conducts 
down to the river, from which the centre and wings of 
the capitol, with their porticoes and pillars, have a very 
fine effect. , 

In the journey to Harrisburgh, there is much to delight 
the traveller. The richness of the soil most of the way 
from Lancaster, is remarkable. The farmers in this 
neighbourhood have the repute of being good cultivators 
of the land, and from their thrifty saving habits are 
wealthy. Many Germans have here found a Goshen 
in the new world. Report speaks less favourably of the 
cultivation of the mind among these substantial yeomen ; 
and several very lamentable instances of the absence of 



252 TUNKERS. 

it as it respects education based upon the word of God, 
presented themselves in the course of the journey. Many 
of these Germans are of a sect called Tunkers, and 
Dunkers, who were at this time holding their great an- 
nual association in the neighbourhood of Harrisburgh. I 
had determined on going to it, but before a conveyance 
was procured, I ascertained that several of the leaders 
had already passed through the city on their return 
home, and that the meeting was dissolved. This was 
a great disappointment, inasmuch as some degree of 
relationship exists between them and the baptists. An 
account of them, extracted from a paper furnished by a 
medical gentleman of great intelligence and observation, 
the son of my hospitable friends, is given below.* 

* "About the year 1694, a controversy arose in the protestant 
churches of Germany and Holland, in which vigorous attempts 
were made to reform some of the errors of the church, and 
with the design of promoting a more practical vital religion. 
This party, at the head of which was the pious Spener, eccle- 
siastical superintendent of the court of Saxony, was opposed 
violently, and after having bestowed upon them, in ridicule, 
the epithet of pietists, they were suppressed, in their public 
ministrations and lectures, by the consistory of Wittemberg. 
Notwithstanding they were prohibited from promulgating 
publicity their views and principles, it led to inquiry among the 
people. This state of things continuing, many learned men, 
of the different universities, left Europe, and emigrated to 
America, whilst others remained, and persevered in the prose- 
cution of the work they had commenced with so much dili- 
gence. In the year 1708, Alexander Maek, of Schriestreim, 
and seven others, in Schwardzenau, Germany, met together, to 
examine carefully and impartially the doctrines of the New 
Testament, and to ascertain what are the obligations it im- 
poses on professing christians; determining to lay aside all 
preconceived opinions and traditional observances. The result 



EPttRATA. 253 

Maintaining their nationality in the new world, 
whither they had emigrated, like their countrymen in 
general, the Tunkers have not, as a sect merged in, or 
coalesced with the American churches ; they now more 
resemble the Mennonites, and similar continental com- 
munities. The result of my inquiries, without the op- 
portunity of personal intercourse, was an opinion in the 
highest degree honourable to their simplicity of manners, 
and integrity of life ; but sound and scriptural religious 
knowledge, and vital godliness, there is great reason to 
fear, have, to a very wide extent, been superseded by 
cold and superstitious forms. The very appearance of 
many of them is so grotesque, from their style of dress, 
and length of beard, as to bring into painful suspicion 
the principles which dictate such singularity. There 
had been a very large meeting, at which there was 
much preaching, and several persons were baptized. 

As to the settlement at Ephrata, near to which the 
rail-road from Philadelphia to Lancaster passes, its glory 
has departed. 

of their inquiries terminated in the formation of the society 
now called Dunkers, or First Day German Baptists. Meeting 
with much persecution, as they grew into some importance, as 
all did who had independence enough to differ from the popu- 
lar church, some were driven into Holland, some to Creyfels 
in the duchy of Cleves, and the mother church voluntarily 
removed to Scrustervin in Frizland, and from thence emigrated 
to America, in 1719, and dispersed to different parts, to Ger- 
mantown, Skippeck, Oley, Conestogo, and elsewhere. They 
formed a church at Germantown, in 1723, under the charge of 
Peter Becker. The church grew rapidly in this country, re- 
ceiving members from the banks of the Wissahickon, and from 
Lancaster county; and soon after a church was established at 
Mill Creek," 

22* 



254 SUSaUEHANNAH. 

Dr. Fahnestock, in his interesting "Historical Sketch," 
traces the history of this singular community of seventh- 
day baptists to the Mill Creek church, whose descend- 
ants, in 1732, formed what he designates "the first pro- 
testant monastery " in America. He has proved himself 
to be an able apologist, but the hope expressed at the 
conclusion, that " the little one may become a thousand, 
and the small one a strong nation," is not likely to prove 
prophetic. In its greatest prosperity, Ephrata must 
have presented only a monastery and a nunnery, built 
contiguously — the habit of the Capuchins, or White 
Friars, with some slight modifications, was that selected. 
In these cloisters, no vow. of celibacy was required, but 
the most unsullied virginity was extolled as the greatest 
of virtues, and marriage itself deplored as a pitiable 
downfal ; there has been some modification of this senti- 
ment in modern times. The remnant of these religion- 
ists are said to hold the great fundamental doctrines of 
the christian faith, and especially " receive the bible as 
the only rule of faith, covenant, and code of laws 
for church government. They do not admit the least 
license with the letter and spirit of the Scriptures, and 
especially of the New Testament — do not allow one jot 
or tittle to be added or rejected in the administration of 
the ordinances, but practise them precisely as they are 
instituted and made an example by Jesus Christ in his 
word." 

At this season of the year the Susquehannah is low, 
and there are many shallows and rapids, which interrupt 
ail navigation ; but at other times innumerable arks 
and rafts are borne down the river, and give to it a 
totally new character. Numerous parties of the ark and 
raft-men, who have delivered their respective trusts, are 



CARLISLE. 255 

then constantly returning- along the banks. They are 
a race who claim the special attention of christians, 
many of them having grown up in ignorance, and from 
this vagrant habit of life, first floating idly down the 
stream, and then returning on foot, are cut off from all 
opportunity of receiving instruction, or attending divine 
worship. Societies are now formed, and are in active 
operation for their especial benefit. 

From Harrisburgh, the river is crossed by a very long 
covered bridge, extending at least a mile, including the 
small island in the centre. The road to Carlisle is 
along this gloomy avenue, lighted as usual, by means 
of openings on each side, which at a distance are often 
not unlike the port-holes of some huge vessel. As we 
looked down the broad stream, a very long train of oxen 
was seen stretching almost across the river, led by one 
horseman, while another brought up the rear ; a some- 
what hazardous expedient to save the heavy toll for 
passing over so long a bridge. Although the ford was 
at this time practicable, the water was in some places 
very deep, so that the beasts appeared occasionally to 
swim. It is not uncommon to see cows and oxen swim- 
ming from the banks of the river to some green islet, for 
the purpose of feeding on pasturage of which they are 
fond ; a habit which must render it sometimes difficult 
to re-assemble the drove on' the opposite bank. 

Near Carlisle are the barracks, but it is. happily, a 
rare thing to see soldiers. The standing army is so 
small, it is said to be difficult to spare the few men ne- 
cessary to keep these places in order. When will the 
nations of the old world dismiss their myriads trained to 
arms, to the useful arts of peace % German farmers 
throughout this section of country, where they are thick- 



256 CHAMBERSBURGH. 

ly settled, give substantial evidence that they have been 
but little troubled with the alarms of war. 

Chambersburgh is a large well-built town, of flourish- 
ing aspect. I no sooner reached it than, guided by the 
sounds of the church-going bell, which in this country 
gives forth its summons indiscriminately from baptist, 
episcopalian, methodist,andpresbyterian meeting-houses, 
I joined those who seemed to be saying, " Come, let us 
go up to the house of the Lord." For the evening of a 
week-day service, an unusual number, especially of 
young people, appeared to be assembled. The sermon 
was an ardent, impassioned address, without much at- 
tempt to inform the judgment by sober exposition of 
scripture. There was a hurried impetuosity of man- 
ner, and violent drawing in of the breath with the 
teeth closed, which may be natural during some pa- 
roxysm of intense agonizing earnestness in pleading 
with men ; but as a habit, and connected with wring- 
ing and rubbing the hands together, both in prayer and 
in preaching, it is quite insufferable. It is surprising that 
persons of plain good sense will either indulge in or tole- 
rate it. 

From Chambersburgh to Pittsburgh the road crosses the 
mountain region. This Appalachian system, as it is 
styled, is said to keep a course from south-west towards 
the north-east, corresponding' very nearly to the direction 
of the Atlantic sea-board ; the blue ridge and the Alle- 
ghanies are comprised in it. Whether from associating 
these with loftier mountains in America, or with the 
streams of which they are the birth-place, or with other 
gigantic attributes of the vast valley of which they are the 
boundary, or the continent of which they form the great 
central ridge, they did not appear so lofty as I expected. 



JUNIATTA. 257 

From these, or some other causes, I felt rather disap- 
pointed in the approach, but the journey across, by the 
customary routes, after passing through much primeval 
forest, as we continued the slow ascent, presented many 
extensive and splendid views. The rich German val- 
ley, as it might well be denominated, could be traced for 
many a mile, diversified with innumerable clearances. 
Laureb in full blossom adorned the side of the road, and 
shrubs and trees of diversified foliage lent an exquisite 
charm to the road over Cove Mountain ; on the other side 
the quiet little town of M'Connelsburgh seemed reposing 
in the sunshine. It is to be regretted that, in making room 
for the growth of many of the towns, not a single tree, 
however picturesque, is suffered to remain. 

The river Juniatta is crossed between M'Connels- 
burgh and Bedford. It is here a quiet stream, mean- 
dering along at the foot of mountains 500 feet high, 
clothed with foliage, and presenting many a bold projec- 
tion and many a romantic glen. A storm here sudden- 
ly burst upon us, and the rain fell in torrents. Our 
driver was in no hurry to proceed, and the delay afford- 
ed an opportunity for witnessing the injustice so often 
practised upon the blacks. A very respectable-looking, 
well-dressed young woman, had been waiting for the 
stage, and had paid her fare to go forward by it to the 
place of her residence. While we stood at the inn door, 
a gentleman, on examining his chaise, found it was out 
of repair, and thought it desirable to send forward his 
lady and two children in the stage, who accordingly got 
in. On hearing a plaintive entreaty, and a harsh, an- 
gry, repulsive reply, my attention was drawn to the co- 
loured woman, who was earnest in imploring permission 
to go; when the following dialogue took place : — " I hope 



258 



COLOURED WOMAN. 



you will let me go, sir? " "I tell you, you can't." " But, 
sir, you have taken my money!" "Well, you can't 
go." " You have received my mone5^, sir, and I think 
I ought to be permitted to go, as I want very much to 
get home to-night." " You can't go, I tell you ; there 
is no room for you." ;c I think there is room, sir." 
" There's no room for you, and you shan't go." 

Not a voice was heard during this altercation to plead 
for a poor unfriended girl, respectable and pleasing both 
in manners and person. I was astonished that the la- 
dy's intercession was not employed. Yet, perhaps, it was 
her prejudice which the stage master consulted; or, per- 
haps, it was that of the lady's lord, who would not sub- 
mit to the indignity of having his wife and children fel- 
low passengers with a coloured person. However that 
may have been, when the driver's preparations convinced 
me I could witness no more, I took the liberty to inter- 
pose, saying in reply to the last decision, " there is no 
room for you," — " I think we can make room for the 
young woman : at all events she shall have my place." 
Grieved as I felt at the thought of evils inflicted on this 
portion of my fellow-creatures, many of whom, too, are 
fellow-christians, I could hardly forbear smiling at the 
dilemma into which the parties felt themselves so sud- 
denly thrown ! Stupid as the blacks are said to be, I 
can only say, the young woman very quickly, but with 
great propriety, availed herself of the opportunity, and 
the coach-door being open for my entrance, she got in. 
I had no intention to be left behind ; and, therefore im- 
mediately followed. The gentlemen standing round 
the coach, seemed to be taken by surprise : it was 
doubtless a singular occurrence ; but before their pre- 
sence of mind returned, the driver was in sufficient self- 



RUNAWAY BLACK. 259 

possession to move off, and leave the discussion to those 
most concerned. I remarked two things when we had 
adjusted ourselves in the coach : first, there teas room in 
the stage, as we had not, after all, the full complement 
of passengers. Moreover, the lady, who would not have 
interfered to prevent the young woman from being left 
behind, though so far as I could see, she herself was the 
cause of it, was willing enough to let the good-tempered 
girl have the trouble of nursing all the way, and of try- 
ing to please and keep quiet one of the children. 

During this journey, I had an opportunity of observ- 
ing how sometimes even the drivers of the stages par- 
take of the same prejudices against their fellow creatures 
of a different hue. I was riding outside, when we met 
a fine-looking well-dressed black man, walking fast, and 
carrying a bundle slung over his shoulder, by means of 
a stick, on the end of which it was suspended. With 
the exception of his very tall, comely appearance, he 
was certainly very much like the little figures which 
editors of newspapers generally place at the commence- 
ment of an advertisement offering a reward for a runa- 
way slave. " That fellow is a slave," said the driver, 
slackening his pace. " I know he is, I have seen the 
description of him ; a large reward is offered for his ap- 
prehension : he ran off with his master's horse, which 
he rode as far as he could carry him, and then turned 
it loose." — " I hope the poor fellow will get safely off," 
said I, much to the surprise of the driver. " That he 
won't," he replied ; " he has been skulking about in the 
woods, and the horse with saddle and bridle, is found, 
and is in the town to which he is going, where he is 
sure to be taken. I should like to take him myself, and 
secure the reward." As he said this, I felt uncertain, 



260 PITTSBURGH. 

from his manner and movements, whether he would 
not seriously make the attempt. I therefore said, with 
some energy, " If I were he, and a robust stout fellow 
like that, you would have some trouble to capture me : 
he had no right to run off with the horse, but that is re- 
covered : as to his running off with himself, if that is 
all, he has certainly as much right to do that as any 
man can have to detain him." The driver, for aught I 
can tell, apprehended that if he left his box to wrestle 
with the black, his passenger would probably move the 
horses forward a sufficient distance to leave him single- 
handed in his attempt, and declined it altogether. 

It was interesting to observe the altered course of the 
streams, which now obviously, like the emigrants we 
passed, were flowing towards the west : also, to whatever 
cause it may be ascribed, I was certainly struck with the 
fact, that the various strata of the earth are in a much 
more horizontal position. So uniformly is this the case, 
that coal is found without any dip or inclination. 

Several instances of revival were reported to have 
taken place among the churches scattered in the south- 
ern part of Pennsylvania, during which many were con- 
verted ; but it would have absorbed more time than 
could have been expended in these regions to have di- 
verged from the main track to Pittsburgh. As we ap- 
proached the town, the sky again gathered blackness, 
and we entered the murky place amidst sheets of fire 
and water. I was happy to transfer myself as early 
as possible the following day, from the hotel to Mr. 
Loyd's, who had prepared for my reception, and enter- 
tained me during my stay. 

The population of Pittsburgh is about 18,000, and 
the places of worship are very numerous. Religion may 



PITTSBURGH. 261 

be regarded as generally in a flourishing state. There 
are three baptist churches, the second holding public 
service in Welsh ; and a new church has recently been 
formed at Alleghany. Mr. Williams, the pastor of the 
first church, was from home. Mr. Davis, from Wales, 
was to have supplied his pulpit in part ; and Mr. Brad- 
ley, the pastor of the third church, had engaged to preach 
a funeral sermon at Mr. Williams's in the afternoon. 
I found it impossible to avoid a laborious day's service, 
having been announced to preach twice at the first 
church, and being urged to visit the friends at Alleghany 
in the afternoon, who were kindly accommodated with 
the use of the methodist place of worship for the occa- 
sion. 

The congregations were not so large nor the general 
appearance of things so flourishing, as might have been 
anticipated from some printed statements relative to re- 
cent revivals. English christians would, in many in- 
stances, form incorrect conceptions of the actual state of 
American churches in the west, from the phraseology 
employed in describing an ordinary degree of prosperity^ 
This does not arise from misrepresentation, but from the 
use of terms to which we are unaccustomed ; thus, not 
long before, it had been announced that during a period 
of revival at Pittsburgh, " sinners of every description, 
had felt constrained to surrender themselves to God \ 
500 persons, in different denominations, had received the 
Spirit, and professed to have been brought into union 
with Jesus ; and although the work had abated in some 
societies, it was increasing in others." The cordial 
union of the first and third churches, in forming the new 
church at Alleghany, of persons dismissed from Pitts* 
23 



262 PITTSBURGH; 

burgh, is a pleasing and promising omen, as the little 
town is rapidly increasing. 

The Western Theological Seminary is a very impor- 
tant and rising institution, belonging to the presbyte- 
rians : the gentlemen of the faculty, and the students, 
were absent during the college vacation ; but I visited 
the buildings, which, though rough and unfinished, are 
finely situated, and well adapted for their purpose. I 
called upon the venerable Dr. H err on, of the presbyte- 
rian church ; with him and others interested in the re- 
cent discussions of the General Assembly, much conver- 
sation arose relative to the divisions among christians, 
which all seem to deplore, but none know how to reme- 
dy. Dr. Herron appeared much worn and fatigued, as 
Well he might, for besides the General Assembly, which 
Was this year held in Pittsburgh, and occupied from the 
21st to the 28th of May, the Local Convention, which 
preceded it, had commenced its sittings on the 14th of 
May, and did not dissolve till the 21st. An unusual 
degree of excitement prevailed throughout these meet- 
ings, and it is thought that important changes must 
sooner or later result from collision of opinion, as was 
indicated by the very large minorities on important 
questions which divided the General Assembly. The 
memorial of the Pittsburgh Convention, addressed to the 
Assembly, and embodying a series of resolutions, threat- 
ens a dissolution of the friendly relations between the 
presbyterian and congregational churches. The con- 
struction put upon this communication by many, is, as 
expressed in a paper of the day, that it condemns the 
American Home Missionary Society, the American 
Education Society, the settlement of the Philadelphia 
troubles by the Assembly* and the countenancing of the 



PITTSBURGH. 263 

"new school" and the "new measures" wherever they 
can be discouraged. Much severe and harsh language 
has been used by the respective parties, from which it 
may be gathered that the presbyterian body is desirous 
of maintaining its own distinctive character as a church, 
and the congregationalists must act in the west as a 
separate and independent denomination. 

The respective sections of Christ's church in Ame- 
rica, have much cause for jealousy of the spirit of legis^ 
lation. Christ has invested his church with judicial 
functions, while he retains the legislative authority in his 
own hands. If a growing propensity to enact laws be 
indulged, a salutary check will probably be found in the 
feebleness of the executive ; inasmuch as every act of 
legislation cannot be carried into effect. This legisla-- 
tive spirit, upon points where the word of God is silent, 
displays itself in many particular churches and congre- 
gations, producing distractions and divisions. Discords 
may, indeed, be overruled by Him whose sole preroga-. 
tive it is to bring good out of evil, but the great remedy 
will be found in a closer adherence to " the law and the 
testimony." Scripture is explicit, in all that is essential ; 
and a spirit of forbearance and charity, in deference to 
the rights of private judgment, is scriptural, where the 
express word of the legislator cannot be adduced. It is 
wisely ordained that religious communities should often 
be thwarted in their legislative enactments, except re- 
course is had to the authority of the civil governor, from 
which interference America is free ! 

Mr. Tassey, the pastor of the independent church, 
showed me much friendly attention. In company with 
him, I rode to the heights opposite the college. A more 
lovely spot was never desecrated by deeds of blood, like 



264 PITTSBURGH, 

those which were witnessed here, when it was known 
only as Fort Duquesne. Manufactures, with their 
ceaseless din and smother, have obliterated all vestiges 
of warlike preparations ; but they threaten with them 
also, to obscure and deform the fair regions themselves. 
These hills have become coal-pits, and on attaining their 
summits, you now hear the clang of hammers from the 
distant forges, and sounds innumerable, which proclaim 
how the toilsome industry of man struggles to keep 
pace with those untiring engines, the giant creations of 
his own ingenuity. The city is built upon the point of 
land at the junction of the two rivers, the Alleghany and 
the Monongahela, whose united streams form the beau- 
tiful Ohio. The waters of the former, generally pure 
and brilliant, seem unnaturally to hasten their rapid 
course to commingle with the sluggish and muddy 
stream, which flows as if reluctant thus to blend. 
These dissimilar rivers have scarcely formed one cur- 
rent, and lost their distinctive characters in the same 
channel, before they are again divided by an island,, 
which adds new charms to the scene. 



Section II. 

Pittsburgh to Albion. 

I left Pittsburgh in a steam-boat, on the 16th June, 
Villages are rising rapidly on both sides the Ohio ; nor 
is it improbable, that along the whole length, of upwards 
of 1000 miles, they will ere long be connected by farms 
or scattered houses. Miserable hovels denote the rnci- 



WHEELING. 265 

pient efforts of man to transform the wilderness into a 
fruitful field. 

At Wheeling a considerable stay was made, but the 
friend for whom I made inquiries was at the presbyte-- 
rian place of worship, at the settlement of a pastor. I 
went to the service and was greatly interested by a ju-. 
dicious discourse on the ministry of the word, as the 
means of converting the world. I had no time to make 
acquaintance with the few baptists of the u old connex- 
ion ; " they worship in a school-room, while, if my infor- 
mation was correct, a congregation connected with Mr. 
Campbell occupies the chapel. I wished much to meet 
with Mr. Campbell, who resides in this neighbourhood, 
but was informed that he was on a tour, in which he- 
would visit several places whither I was going. 

I was not able to land at Marietta,, where there is a 
nourishing baptist church of between 200 and 300 mem- 
bers. It had formed part of my plan to visit both that 
town, and Zanesville, where there is an equally prosper- 
ous church, under the pastoral care of Mr. Sedgwick ; 
but for the purpose of spending a few days in Kentucky, 
determined on proceeding direct to Mayesville. As the 
Ohio winds along in majestic beauty, and the rapid boat 
creates a magic change in the scene, you are neverthe- 
less struck with the same general features. At sunset, 
it is not difficult to suppose yourself in the very spot 
where you saw the first dawn of day. You may have 
passed many of the richly-wooded islands with which 
it is studded, now touching upon the coast of freedom, 
and then sweeping by the land of slaves ; in some 
places the rocks may rise somewhat higher, and the 
banks present a more or less precipitous slope, but you 
have the same current, and the same country ; it is like 

23* 



266 MAYESVILLE. 

an endless succession of lakes, bounded by hills r on 
which the same giant forms are seen stretching forth 
their leafy limbs in towering majesty. The lovely fea- 
tures, a thousand times repeated, are indelibly fixed in 
the mind ; and after floating 400 or 500 miles on the 
tranquil and uniform stream, it is a rehef to vary the 
mode of travelling, and I was glad to go on shore. 

At Mayesville, the cholera still lingered ; there had 
been ten fatal cases within a few days. It is a consider- 
able town, of 5000 or 6000 inhabitants, and presents 
advantages for boats to land their freight ; but it stands 
on a low swampy bottom, surrounded by lofty hills, 
which seem to shut it in from every fresh and wholesome 
breeze. 

You ascend the steep hills commanding a view of the 
town, by one of the best roads in the United States. 
The land is rich, and the farms large and in good culti- 
vation, though all the improvement is the fruit of slave 
labour. I made particular inquiry into the condition of 
this sort of agricultural population, and was informed 
that they are well fed, but that many farmers who labour 
themselves, extort an almost incredible amount of work 
from the slaves about them. This is not improbable, as 
they would naturally expect the robust negro to do as 
much as they did, without regard to the difference be- 
tween free and compulsory toil, and the yet more im- 
portant difference, between that which is richly compen- 
sated, and that which is unrequited. The master is 
industrious, but his spirits are ever buoyant with all the 
confidence of hope ; the slave is a total stranger to 
the feeling, and God and nature have made him 
such that he cannot be otherwise than a grudging 
workman, rendering parsimonious and reluctant toil. 
Divine grace, indeed, may, and does, stimulate with 



BURNING HEMP FACTORIES. 267 

hopes and prospects beyond that grave, where "the 
wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest," 
and christian slaves are by many preferred. Human 
cupidity also devises the stimulus of the lash, where it 
deprives of that of hope. Kentucky has been taught 
some lessons illustrative of the imitative propensities of 
those slaves whom many deem inferior to men. While 
Lynch law is often practised against the slaves' friends, 
these very slaves sometimes learn of their masters, and 
deal with their own hands what they deem righteous 
retribution. 

The circumstances which led to the burning down 
of mEmy of the hemp factories were these. The slaves 
were tasked, and as the time was to be their own after 
completing the stipulated task, with all the spring of 
hope and hilarity of free labourers, it was finished by 
the Wednesday night, or early on the Thursday morn- 
ing. A larger amount of work was of course required, 
and the tasks were lengthened by degrees, till they be- 
came physically impracticable, inasmuch as the agent 
was again crushed and dispirited, and literally unable, 
even when punishment was vigorously resorted to, to 
comply with the demand ! "Surely oppression maketh 
a wise man mad ;" w T as it then surprising, that the poor 
ignorant slave should kindle incendiary fires ? I obtain- 
ed much information upon these points from a Ken- 
tuckian planter, a fine intelligent young man, and a 
perfect specimen of all I had imagined. He was free 
and unreserved in his manners and conversation, pre- 
cisely the frank, hearty, impetuous man you might wish 
to meet with ; caring nothing for what you thought, 
and, therefore, with a rough hand, tearing away all veil 
and concealment from any subject on which he was in- 



268 SLAVES. 

clined to give information. This gentleman was the 
proprietor of slaves, inherited from a relative, and he 
had been purchasing others. I objected to his re- 
cent purchase, as partaking of all the iniquity of the 
slave trade ; and adverted to the consequences of buying 
and carrying off ten or twelve men from their wives and 
families. He replied— " They were bad fellows ; I had 
them out of the jails." I said, it was well known, that 
by connivance, those prisons were used by the keepers, 
for the purpose of securing slaves about to be sold ; and 
that the physical effects denoting the terror of those 
seized and confined in them, were so common as to be 
almost uniform ; being at first a profuse sweat, followed 
by a prostration of all energy ; but that the keepers of 
jails for the consideration of a fee, took charge of the 
wretched creatures brought to them in that condition. 
He admitted that this might be the case with some ; and 
I argued that their right to themselves, and consequently 
to escape if they could, was at least equal to his right to 
detain them, as they had committed no crime, and ex- 
pressed at the same time a hope, that speedy emancipa- 
tion would set them all free. His reply was, " I would 
burn them rather than let them go." I expressed my 
horror at such a sentiment, saying, "Then, sir, God 
would deem you a murderer ; " and I made some refer- 
ence to the judgment to come. " That may be," said 
he, "but I speak of my property ', and would shoot 
them sooner than allow them to be taken from me." 
This led to a long and very interesting discussion on 
slavery and abolition; during which I certainly was 
surprised at the forbearance of so strong and athletic an 
antagonist, who told me that very few of his country- 
men would listen to me so long as he had. 






paris. 269 

I do not doubt the veracity of this witness, when he 
declared he had seen so severe a punishment inflicted, 
that a surgeon stood by with restoratives to revive re- 
peatedly the fainting sufferer, that the lashes might be 
renewed. He also declared, that he had known 1200 
lashes given at the rate of fifty a day consecutively ; for 
what specific crimes he did not well remember. It is 
proper to add, these enormities were not practised in 
Kentucky, where it was his opinion the slaves were 
much better off than in Missouri and elsewhere. So 
frightful is the waste of life among those employed in 
clearing some new lands, I have heard the loss estimated 
at thirty-three per cent, per annum for the first few 
years. 

Paris is a good town, delightfully situated ; the houses 
and churches in this neighbourhood are low, but large 
and elegant ; it appears to be the fashion to enclose 
as much space as will afford all the requisite accommo- 
dation on the basement. The baptist church here has 
been reduced from upwards of 300 to fewer than 100, 
and these have no resident pastor ; their former minister, 
with many of his people, joined Mr. Campbell, while 
many preferred uniting with the unitarians. The Elk- 
horn Association, with which Paris was connected, pre- 
sents many similar instances of distraction and declen- 
sion. Some of the churches, as at Great Crossings and 
that at Elkhorn, I was informed, are dwindled to a mere 
handful, whereas there was a time when one contained 
several hundreds, and the other 543 members. 

Both in this state and in Ohio, there exists great di- 
vision of opinion, and many are not in fellowship with 
any church. It seems as if the body had required to be 
fused down, that it might be purified and recast in a new 



270 LEXINGTON. 

mould. Anticipations of change are characteristic of the 
times, and already there is, both in the new and in the 
old world, great agitation and excitement in all christian 
denominations. Whether a better order of things gene- 
rally, as it respects the church, will result from something 
like resolving it into its original elements ; or, whether 
the several sections of it may be taught to esteem and 
love each other more, as christians, while yet differences 
exist, remains to be proved. 

Lexington has by no means escaped from the influ- 
ence of these dissensions ; but while, as a mass, the 
members of baptist churches there are more like an un- 
moulded chaos than a beautiful living temple, I found 
individuals, and those not a few, whom it was a privi- 
lege to know, and who cannot be known without being 
regarded as "brethren beloved." Whoever may have 
the honour of harmonizing what is discordant, and 
bringing again into holy fellowship these valuable mate- 
rials, will achieve a most desirable consummation ; and, 
instead of six or seven distinct communities, each desig- 
nated by some party name, the baptist church at Lex- 
ington might vie in holy rivalry, not only with any in 
the state, but with any in America. 

I availed myself of Dr. Wayland's letter of introduc- 
tion to Mr. Clay, and was politely received. Miss Mar- 
.tineau had just left his residence; her visit supplied 
some topics of conversation, particularly in reference to 
the civil disabilities of dissenters in England, and the 
prospect of concession to their just claims, — a subject 
which I found Americans in general at a loss to compre- 
hend. Mr. Tappan had recently written to Mr. Clay 
on the subject of emancipation. I watched for some in- 
dications of opinion favourable to the slave, but was not 



LEXINGTON* 271 

surprised at the guarded manner in which it was ob- 
served, that there were but three points on which the 
topic could be introduced to congress, viz. relative to the 
district of Columbia, the new territories, or the co- 
loured people generally. Mr. Clay's manners and 
conversation are remarkable for plainness and simplicity. 
We conversed freely on the relative numbers, influence, 
and prospects of the different religious communities, and 
on education generally. Mr. Bishop, who urged my 
staying one Sunday at Lexington, kindly received me 
as his guest ; but before I took up my abode with hinij 
and while at the hotel, I had a long conference with a 
slave, which left a deep impression on my heart. He 
was an humble patient follower of his meek and lowly 
Lord ; and like him, too, for the joy that was set before 
him, endured the cross. He told me it seemed a great 
mystery that so many of the Lord's people were slaves ; 
but he was comforted with the hope of a glorious heaven 
which would make up for all. He said he was not ill 
used, though hired out, but was always harassed with 
the thought of what might happen, as he might be sent 
to the south. He had a wife — there was no form of 
marriage when he took her. His wife belongs to an- 
other owner, and is at a distance, but husbands and 
wives are often separated for ever. He should like to be 
free, to learn and improve himself. Poor fellow ! grace 
had moulded his spirit into as much beauty and sym- 
metry as nature had his body. How indignant I felt, at 
the sneering manner in which I had heard reference 
made to the marriages of slaves ! Upon this point, 
while in Kentucky, I was particular in making inquiries, 
and ascertained, that to constitute a marriage between 
slaves legale certain licenses are required, with a bond 



272 LEXINGTON. 

from the owners of one or both the parties ; these are 
very rarely granted. Ministers, therefore, dispense with 
such documents, and in a religious manner recognise the 
union of their church members, as holy matrimony, 
though some forms of law cannot be complied with. 
The absolute and irresponsible authority of owners, sets 
these and all other relations at defiance ; as caprice, con- 
venience, or necessity may dictate, the parties are often 
sold from each other. This pitiable condition is regard- 
ed as a divorce or widowhood, and the parties are held 
free to marry again, if so disposed ; to be, perhaps, in 
the same way divorced, and again repeat the mockery 
of wedlock. Separation by sale of either party is thus 
regarded as we regard a capital conviction ; the matri- 
monial tie is dissolved, even though the sentence of 
death should be commuted for transportation. Ponder- 
ing over all these enormities one night, my repose was 
disturbed by thunders which rent the very heavens, and 
lightning which seem destined to kindle the melting 
elements — I could but imagine that the heavens were 
echoing back the black man's groans, mingled with 
threatenings of vengeance, "The Lord is at hand!" 

Among the visitors who kindly called upon me, was 
the Rev. Mr. Hall, one of the presbyterian pastors. It 
was his particular desire that I should occupy one of their 
pulpits on Lord's-day. I had engaged to preach at Dr. 
Fishback's, which is a large and substantial place of 
worship; and it was expected our baptist friends would 
rally, and on this occasion worship together. I promised 
cheerfully to comply with any arrangements which might 
be generally preferred, but on no consideration to forego 
the pleasure of preaching to the coloured church, under 
the pastoral care of our coloured brother, Mr. Ferr il 



LEXINGTON. 273 

This service was fixed for the afternoon, as most con- 
venient for the large body of 500 members, more than 
half being slaves. It was finally settled, that the most 
capacious of the presbyterian churches should be open 
at night for the general accommodation of all parties. 
I was enabled to discharge the arduous and anxious 
duties to which I stood pledged, and moreover, heard 
Dr. Fishback deliver a very able and interesting discourse 
of great originality, though somewhat too metaphysical 
for ordinary hearers. The congregation of blacks was 
not very large, they were attentive, and much affected. 
A few whites were present, for what purpose I could not 
conjecture, obviously not to take part in the worship. At 
night, the house was filled, and I trust the fellowship of 
the saints was not the less delightful, because the assem- 
bly was composed of some from many sections of the 
church of Christ. 

No laws exist in Kentucky to prohibit the instruction 
of slaves ; accordingly a great proportion of Mr. Ferrill's 
church can read, and many adults are learning. Eman- 
cipation also can be easily effected, and the freed negro 
is not required to quit the state. Slaves are often sold 
into Louisiana, which they greatly dread, and separations 
of husbands and wives, parents and children, often hap- 
pen, but public opinion is increasingly opposed to this ; 
and I heard of one instance of exclusion from a church 
on account of it. 

Barbarities, of which I heard, cannot be prevented, 
while slavery is what it is, and man, whether slave or 
master, is man — but many a Kentuckian may be found, 
whose only inducement still to hold the power unright- 
eously given to him by the laws, is the well-being of 
those over whom he watches as a temporary guardian. 
24 



274 lexixgtok, 

One gentleman, venerable in years, and benevolent m 
heart, told me that, under existing laws and customs 
relative to the blacks, he would no more part with his 
slaves than with his children. He said 7 with tears, he 
really loved them, and delighted to fondle the little ones 
on his knees. I ventured to refer to his own mortality "■■ 
when he immediately interrupted me by saying, u I have 
taken care of all that in my will, and provided not only 
for their liberty, but for their welfare, as far as I can. 
While I live, I cannot do better for them, under existing 
circumstances, and, when I die, I cannot do more." Mr. 
Birnie also, who is now T devoted to the service of the 
Abolition Society, set a noble example to his country- 
men, by the gratuitous manumission of the few slaves 
he owned. Many philanthropists, w^ho, doubtless, design 
to do to others as they would be done unto, cannot imme- 
diately manumit their slaves : none would rejoice more- 
in total, universal abolition, and for this consummation 
they are preparing, and will persist in preparing, their 
own slaves, to the best of their judgment. But it must 
be remembered that, in some states, even though the 
owner should consent to become a pauper by the deed, 
he is unable to secure their liberty. The state would 
require bonds from himself, and two responsible guaran- 
tees, to the amount of three times the value of the slaves, 
that they should never become chargeable to the public* 
In other states, the manumitted slaves must be removed, 
and such state as the benevolent owner might be able to 
convey them to, would make similar requisitions with 
which he could not comply. In these, and many more 
cases, a man would not do as he w T ould be done by, to 
cast his poor unfriended, unprotected negroes upon u the 
tender mercies" of a state legislature. He knows they 



FRANKFORT. 275 

would be sold into hopeless bondage, the moment he 
relinquished his own legal rights. The laws must first 
be altered. 

I did not visit George Town College, having been 
informed that its affairs were deranged, and that at 
present only a few youths are there at school. Transyl- 
vania University, at Lexington, is a handsome building, 
well adapted for the purposes contemplated, and greatly 
ornamental to the city, but was not in successful opera- 
tion. Lexington is laid out on a magnificent scale, and 
promises to be every way worthy of the state of which 
it is the centre and chief town, though Frankfort is the 
capital. 

On arriving at Frankfort, I was sorry to find Dr. Noel 
was from home, having gone to attend a protracted 
meeting at Newcastle ; of this meeting I was not inform- 
ed till we reached Shelbyville, or should have made some 
effort to have reached it, by diverging from the direct 
route to Louisville. Shelbyville is a place of considerable 
trade. The pastor of the baptist church, Mr. Dale, was 
also gone to the Newcastle meeting. A protracted 
meeting had recently been held at Shelbyville, but not 
attended with such results as were realized a few months 
previously. On that occasion, after fifteen days of devo- 
tional exercises, 1 00 persons were baptized ! Some of 
the ministers, in returning home, stopped at Bethel, of 
which church Mr. Holland was pastor. It was found 
that many persons followed, who had been previously 
interested, and seventy more were received there ; and 
during the ensuing three months 119 were joined to the 
church. Another pastor baptized 127 candidates, and 
as the influence continued to extend from town to town, 



276 SHELBYVILLE. 

it was thought that not fewer than 1200 persons were 
gathered into the neighbouring churches. 

In accessions like these, many, would, no doubt, be 
strangers to the forms of government and regular disci- 
pline of the churches. These might, in some cases, 
constitute a majority in communities but recently form- 
ed, and with comparatively few men of experience and 
of sound practical wisdom in the office of deacons. As 
churches, moreover, multiplied faster than competent 
pastors could be procured, or than means for their sup- 
port could be raised, many evils and inconveniences were 
to be anticipated, and some irregularities were inevita- 
ble. When this incipient order of things shall have had 
time to settle and adjust itself, under the guidance of the 
piety, talent and prudence of the devoted men who are 
multiplying among them, the churches, associations, and 
conventions of these western states will present the same 
exhilarating display of harmony and energy in the 
worship and service of the Divine Redeemer, as do those 
in the states of New-England. 

Never was the term " reformed" less appropriately 
chosen, as designating the body which has sprung up 
in this recent, immature, and unformed state of things. 
They were not in a condition to be re-organized ; and, 
as far as I could learn, where alterations are avowed in 
doctrinal views or forms of church order, they are far 
from being well organized. As it respects the constitu- 
tion and order of the churches styled " reformed." or in 
other words, " Campbellites," it will be sufficient to say 
they seem to symbolize most with the Sandemanians, or 
Scotch baptists. In point of doctrine, it is not very easy 
to arrive at clear and satisfactory conclusions. Preachers 



SHELBYVILLE. 277 

of a metaphysical turn of mind, and acquainted with 
mental and moral science, make much use of what may 
be styled the doctrine of appropriate emotions. They 
seem to assume, that certain feelings will infallibly result 
from the contemplation of certain objects, and therefore 
they teach that nothing more is necessary, than to arrest 
the attention of men, and fix their minds upon the sacri- 
fice of Christ, when all the appropriate feelings and 
effects will follow spontaneously and necessarily, by 
certain original laws of our nature. When the mind, 
by a volition of its own, thus attends, the spirit and 
power of the truth itself will effect regeneration and 
conversion, without that agency and influence of the 
Holy Spirit, which is ordinarily conceived to be essential 
to render the truth of Christ efficient. This seems to be 
superseded, and, probably, by many is really denied, 
when they say, "there is no spirit nor divine influence 
but the evidence which attends the truth" and it is to 
be feared that many, whose minds have not been well 
disciplined, will teach this doctrine, as if they had " not 
so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." 

In reference to baptism, or " the immersion," it would 
clearly not be compatible with these views, to advocate 
baptismal regeneration : and so far as I could learn, 
they are not in the habit of preaching it ; but that par- 
don is made somehow to depend on a submission to this 
command of Christ, is doubtless taught. A very subtle 
distinction is drawn by some, between the divine act of 
justification, and a pleasing sense of forgiveness, and 
acceptance with God; but these ideas are more con- 
fused by others. , An unguarded and unqualified ad- 
dress, but in which there is a distinct exhibition of the 
cross, no doubt often results in the real converson of 
24* 



278 LOUISVILLE. 

some, who repent, believe, and are baptized ; but many 
besides, are gathered among professed christians. It 
can hardly be otherwise, when a preacher, perhaps, with 
inimitable simplicity of style, and calm solemn address, 
presents the sacrifice of Christ, as the grand provision 
for our salvation ; and follows it up by saying, " Now if 
you believe this . and are willing to submit to the immer- 
sion commanded, which I am prepared here and forth- 
with to administer, you will be pardoned ; your salva- 
tion is secured ! " 

Upon the whole, after as much inquiry and attention 
as my time and opportunity would allow, I returned 
from the western states with the conviction that all 
which was truly good about the whole system, which 
has assumed the style and title of c: reformed; 1 in our 
denomination, is old : and all that is really entitled to 
be considered new, has little besides its novelty to recom- 
mend it. 

Louisville surprises the traveller who has been dreaming 
only of a distant wilderness, through which the Ohio rolls 
its waters so tranquilly, till they are ruffled and broken 
by the rocks at these falls. A blue line of hills denotes 
your approach to the river, which has wound its way 
round the state which it bounds for a distance of nearly 
200 miles since you left it at Mayesville. It is much 
wider at this bend than in most other places, and pre- 
sents altogether a new character, from the rapids, which 
interrupt the nivigation except when the water is high. 
The city is not only destined to be the chief town in 
Kentucky, but on the Ohio ; and is said to be fast tak- 
ing the lead of Cincinnati. It is a place of great com- 
mercial enterprise, and judging from the immense 
masses of brick warehousing or stores, large capitals 



NEW ALBANY. 279 

must be employed here ; and altogether a basis is laid 
for a town of first rate magnitude. It appears surpris- 
ing that however well selected the site may be in other 
respects, it should have been chosen above the falls. 
This inconvenience is now remedied by a canal, and 
the buildings will gradually extend as low as Shipping 
Port and Portland. 

I was indebted to Mr. Quarey for kind entertainment 
and much information, and having ascertained that Mr. 
Wilson was prevented from going to Newcastle by the 
sudden illness of his wife, he drove me to his house. 
The baptist church may be regarded as divided into 
two branches, for although the blacks have a separate 
place of worship, and two pastors or preachers, Henry 
Smith and Jerry Sample, their affairs are managed by a 
committee of whites, I was sorry to leave without seeing 
them, but was hurried on board the boat which was to 
convey me 250 miles further down the stream, from 
whose commencement I was already 600 miles. This 
steam-boat was quite new, it being her first trip ; a gentle- 
man on board told me the paint was wet three days before; 
she was capable of carrying 200 tons, but not being 
deeply laden, the captain intended to save $60 charged 
by the canal, and attempt the falls and shoots. There 
was something very exciting in this experiment, and the 
passengers were directed to run from side to side as the 
rocks and currents required, in so authoritative a man- 
ner as to evince the importance of prompt obedience. 
We had one or two shocks as severe as when a vessel 
on the ocean is struck with a sea ; I thought we must 
have grounded, but the pilot took us safely through the 
brief perils. Having reached New Albany, not more 
than five miles distance, we were detained seven hours. 



280 THE OHIO. 

This rising town contains already 3000 inhabitants^ 
and it is amply provided with schools and places of 
worship ; there is a baptist church of more than 100 
members, but the pastor resides elsewhere, having also 
the care of other churches. This custom presents a 
singular contrast to that which obtains among our 
Welsh brethren, where the different branches at various 
places form but one church, though there may be many 
preachers ; here the churches are separate and indepen- 
dent, and the pastor is a pluralist. Great inconveniences 
attend this practice ; but the accusation of covetousness 
in the pastors, who are said to strive for as many 
churches as they can serve, and of parsimony in churches, 
who strive to do with the least possible amount of pasto- 
ral or ministerial service, is, so far as my observation 
extended, slanderous. If the evil so conscientiously de- 
plored by many is not daily diminishing, it is because 
the churches continue so rapidly to multiply. There 
never was a more hopeful prospect of providing an ade- 
quate supply of competent pastors. 

Among the amusing incidents of this voyage, I may 
mention a compliment paid me by a fellow-passenger, 
who, addressing a friend, remarked of me, that I spoke 
English pretty well for an Englishman ! Much agreea- 
ble chat satisfied me that they were seriously of opinion, 
very few English people understood their mother tongue 
so well as it is almost universally known in America. 
Undoubtedly there is less provincialism among the 
United States, than would be found among any equal 
number of English Counties ; but I was unable to re- 
turn my friend's compliment in reference to his own 
grammar ; on the contrary, I promised to detect him in 
half a dozen blunders in less than half an hour. 



THE OHIO. 281 

Our engine continued its rough hoarse snort at every 
stroke of the piston in a disagreeable manner, but some ex- 
periment tried in th:s boat, to prevent the jarring motion, 
which is often very unpleasant, proved so effectual, it was 
quite easy even to write. I spent a feverish and uncom- 
fortable night, and whether from the paint, or the state of 
the atmosphere, or the almost intolerable heat, I imagined 
myself seriously ill; and could not divest myself of appre- 
hensions of cholera, which the following circumstance 
increased. A gentleman on board of rather melancholy 
and dejected appearance, engaged my sympathy ; he 
conversed very freely relative to his forlorn situation. 
Many years of his life had been spent in Missouri, where 
at length he found himself master of a large farm, to be 
inherited by two or three sons. He was thinking of de- 
volving upon the eldest more of his cares, and relieving 
himself and his wife from some of their anxieties, when 
she was suddenly snatched from him by death. This 
loss so preyed upon his spirits, he was advised to make 
a considerable tour, which he did in company with his 
beloved and promising eldest son. He had derived ben- 
efit from the change, and was about to encounter home, 
again. They reached Louisville, on their return, only a 
few days before, but there the angel of death awaited his 
child, who had no sooner arrived than the dreadful cholera 
smote him. The broken-hearted father had closed his 
eyes and committed him to a hasty grave, and was now, 
on the following day, returning to his desolate home, in 
a more forlorn state than when he left it. I endeavoui ed 
to lead him to the God of all consolation ; and was happy 
to find that he was not a stranger to the principles, which 
dictated the language, "though he slay me, yet will I 
trust in him" — "The Lord gave and the Lord hath 



282 THE OHIO. 

taken away." I was introduced to an acquaintance with 
a few others on board, whose proposed career of holy 
benevolence, was marked by most romantic self-devote- 
ment. Two } r oung men on their way to a far distant 
theological seminary in the west, were working their pas- 
sage down the river, by most oppressive and as it appear- 
ed to me hazardous toil, during the storms of the night, 
in taking in wood, and landing our cargo at different 
towns on the banks. They were almost exhausted 
with the unaccustomed labour, when a subscription was 
raised to pay their passage for the remainder of the way. 
Another young candidate for the ministry dared every 
inconvenience from rain and the state of the landings, to 
distribute tracts, and address a few words on religious 
subjects, to any who would listen to him. I was invited 
into the ladies' cabin, and requested to conduct the devo- 
tions of the evening. The associations were overpower- 
ing ! To find a bethel in a steam-boat, when thus a 
total stranger, so many thousands of miles from home, 
and as we rushed down towards the father of rivers, 
was truly delightful. Others of a different description 
were on board ; men of infidel principles, in quest of the 
favoured region where the lamp of truth is extinguished, 
that mortals may walk in the light of their own fire and 
in the sparks they kindle. These were on their way to 
New Harmony, hoping to breathe an element more con- 
genial, and to find associates more agreeable, than where 
the prejudices of Christianity prevailed. I blush to say 
that here, as on other occasions, my country was insulted 
by one of her sons, a coarse, vulgar, atheistical objector. 
The works of Miss Wright and other infidel writings 
were produced ; and I felt bound, for the sake of others 
to discuss the evidences of revelation and the claims of 



EVANSVILLE. 283 

the gospel. What has been termed the " capacious 
credulity of infidelity/' and the "bold belief of unbeliev- 
ers," was sufficiently manifest in the Englishman and his 
companion, from whom I learned much to excite disgust 
with the infidel school of these regions. 

On reaching Evansville, I was desirous of attempt- 
ing the remainder of my journey by land. My time 
was occupied in seeking information relative to my 
route, and I was unable to make the acquaintance of 
any member of the baptist church, which is a small 
community, and holds its meetings for preaching only 
once a month. To form any adequate acquaintance 
with these scattered churches, it would be necessary 
to travel through the country ; I therefore learned with 
regret that the road to Harmony, was not practica- 
ble, the flats being covered with two or three feet water. 

I returned to the boat, being advised to go to Mount 
Yernon, forty miles lower down, and not far from the 
embouchure of the Wabash, where I was happy to es- 
cape to shore in the middle of a very dark night. I 
found no regular church here, but had an interesting 
conversation with two or three persons who deplored the 
want of stated ministrations of the gospel : that want 
might be supplied by our denomination, as well as by 
others, if the baptist churches in these parts were happily 
freed from existing prejudices. Some of that com- 
munion are scattered here upon the banks of the river, 
but the association after having increased to twenty 
churches, and more than 800 communicants, a few years 
back took alarm by the introduction of what once occa- 
sioned a like panic among our churches in England. 
They were not prepared for missions, bible societies, and 
other benevevolent operations. Misguided opposition to 



284 MOUNT VERNON. 

these new and but little understood schemes of christian 
enterprise, inflicted a blight upon them, from which they 
have but slowly recovered. 

Amidst the excitement occasioned by these controversies, 
some very absurd errors were taught by those who at the 
same time were the champions of the " anti-effort" party. 
Supralapsarian doctrines were commingled with the mon- 
strous figment, that the non-elect are not literally the natu- 
ral offspring of Adam, but that although Eve was their 
mother, the devil, who was eternal and self-subsistent, 
was their father. Much zeal had been manifested in 
this controversy ; and if such absurdities as those taught 
by Southcott and her followers, were not without abettors 
even in the episcopalian churches of England, it is not 
surprising that views of this description, taught by men 
of good moral character and honest zeal, should have 
produced lamentable effects amidst a new and scattered 
people, in the depths of these boundless forests, and re- 
moved hundreds of miles from the light of cultivated 
cities ! nor can it be deemed incredible that even now 
the Mormonites make a few disciples.* 

*The Mormons may be regarded as a race of fanatics who 
are in no way connected with any portion of the baptists, ex- 
cepting that as they immerse their converts. From the infor- 
mation given me by a person who seemed strongly inclined to 
join them, and from Mr. Peck, I was induced to differ in opinion 
with Mr. P. on the propriety of even so far countenancing this 
heresy, as to publish any exposure of its follies ; but as several 
thousands are said to have embraced mormonism he thought 
it right to print a tract on the subject. The sect originated in 
the pretended discovery of a number of engraved plates, in the 
year 1830, by a man named Smith. The character of the en- 
graving was that of some unknown tongue, and Smith pro- 
fessed to have been suddenly and miraculously gifted to trans- 



MOUNT VERNON. 



285 



The legislative spirit of the times, among christians of 
all denominations, displayed itself in some of these asso- 
ciations, by rules against private christians and churches 
harbouring such as by their own efforts appeared to take 
the work of God out of his own hands. Jealousy of the 
divine honour led to another remarkable result; they 
would not tolerate the existence of an authority which 
could at pleasure abrogate or set at defiance the authority 

late it. He did so, and published an English version of the 
"Book of Mormon," or " The Golden Bible!" In point of 
style, this production is about as close an approximation to 
that of the New Testament, as the Koran is to the Old Testa- 
ment. Whatever doctrines may therein be taught, it is impos- 
sible not to trace an analogy between the Mormon pretensions 
to the miraculous gifts of healing, and of tongues, and of pro- 
phecy, with similar delusions which at the same time were so 
rife in England and Scotland. It is not improbable but that 
the Mormon pretenders of Missouri, adopted many of the no- 
tions of the Irvingite Millenarians. The book is styled "An 
Abridgement of the Record of the People of Nephi, and also of 
the Lamanites, which are a remnant of the house of Israel ; also 
to Jew and Gentile: written by commandment, and also by 
the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Written and sealed up, 
and hid up to the Lord, that they might not be destroyed, to 
come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation 
thereof; sealed by the hand of Moroni," &c. &c. An angel is 
said to have pointed out the place where these plates were con- 
cealed, and eleven witnesses attest the fact of having seen and 
examined them. The Mormons are a sect of Millenarians, hav- 
ing high-priests, elders, bishops and deacons, who are sent forth 
on their ministry after the manner in which Christ sent his 
disciples, and in the meantime the families of these mission- 
aries are supported by the church. In their ministry they 
dwell chiefly on the anticipated millennium, and many enthu- 
siasts have made great sacrifices in expectation of the speedy 
coming of Christ to reign personally on the earth. 

25 



286 NEW HARMONY, 

and laws of God : accordingly some of their rules not 
only prohibited the holding of slaves, but also corres- 
ponding with such as did hold them, or even with those 
who corresponded with them. 

What may be deplored as extravagant; is thus to be 
traced to much that must be approved, and it is yielding 
to the influence of growing illumination. As the noxious 
exhalations of their own unwholesome swamps are dis- 
persed by the clearings of the forest which admit the light of 
the sun, and the winds of heaven, that their beautiful river 
may roll its bright and healthful waters through a para- 
dise ; so the moral gloom is yielding to the untiring efforts 
of zealous and pious advocates of wisdom and know- 
ledge. It may be in part ascribed to these circumstances, 
that the advocates of infidelity have met with partial 
success. The true church was paral)~zed, and did not 
encounter the adversary with specific and appropriate 
weapons of the spiritual warfare, 

I proceeded to New Harmony by the stage. The 
road was in many places a track of deep mud, winding 
amidst the most magnificent trees. While contem- 
plating their massive vegetation, the value of the timber 
and the richness of the soil, forcibly impresses the mind 
of a stranger : but I have since travelled in similar 
forests, where a settler shakes his head significantly at 
your remarks, and gives you to understand that in his 
judgment those noble trees render that rich soil at pre- 
sent valueless, — they set at defiance both fire and the 
axe ! The country about Harmony is not so heavily 
timbered, nor does the land appear so good ; and the 
town itself, though well situated, presents symptoms of 
decay. The largest building, which was Rapp's church, 
is much out of repair, and some houses and stores are 



NEW HARMONY. 287 

-empty. Notwithstanding the failure of Mr. Owen's 
i: social system" project, the place is still the resort of 
infidelity. Most of those who on this account prefer 
the settlement, are from the old country ! The church, 
and buildings, added, now constitute the theatre, 
museum, and assembly rooms ; and although there is 
a population of nearly 1000, there is no house of prayer 
nor any stated preaching. I could hear only of one pri- 
vate residence which was occasionally opened for worship, 
when a methodist minister chances to travel through. 

The whole experiment is a failure, and the general 
impression I found to be, that faith had not been kept 
with the public. Very respectable authority might be 
adduced, not for this opinion only, but for the striking 
contrast in the general character of the community from 
that which preceded it. There is much amusement 
and little toil, giving to the surface of society an air of 
hilarity, while there is said to be but little real pros- 
perity and contentment. The testimony I received 
was, that in no place in the union was education more 
talked about and less attended to : and that the youth 
were for the most part vicious, vulgar, and profane. It 
seems that the whole has dwindled into a mere land 
speculation, and whatever loss may have been sustain- 
ed, the gentlemen whom I saw riding about like the 
lords of the manor, will probably recover, by the gradual 
sale of sections of their estate to new settlers, whose im- 
provements will continue to increase the value of the 
remainder. 

I hired a dearborn, or small wagon with one horse, to 
travel to Albion and Yandalia, or Yincennes. The 
Wabash was greatly overflowed, and Fox Island was 
flooded, so that it w 7 as necessary to descend the stream. 



288 THE WABASH. 

and then ascend Fox river against a strong current. The 
ferry-boat seemed scarcely capacious enough for a larger 
wagon and a pair of stout horses belonging to another 
traveller, and we were to land, if we could, just where 
the late Mr. Birkbeck lost his life, during a similar 
flood. After one or two attempts this was with dimculty 
effected, the horses were up to their knees in water, and 
we were to drive through this bottom amidst the tangled 
vines of a forest, where no track was perceptible. I was 
advised by the ferryman to take a seat in the large 
wagon, when with all the pride of a backwoodsman, 
having in his care one who had never before witnessed 
a ramble like this, and was every moment doubtful both 
of the direction and of the practicability of the way, my 
Jehu dashed along. In leaving the boat he had ob- 
served, he " only wanted foothold for one leg of one of 
his team, and trust him for the rest." I felt confidence 
in his skill, but more particularly in that of his horses ; 
and many a young tree was made to bend or break un- 
der our axle. I was nevertheless amused when he was 
dependent upon me for a knife, having lost his own, to 
cut himself free from the vines which had effectually 
entangled his beasts twining round their necks and 
legs, — they were as much imprisoned as Laocoon within 
the folds of the snakes. When the increasing depth of 
the water rendered it no longer doubtful that we had 
taken the wrong course, my carriage was sent back for 
one of the ferrymen, who providentially had not got out 
of hearing. In this dismal swamp the air seemed im- 
pregnated with decayed wood, and the horses, stung to 
madness, stamped into existence myriads of musquitoes 
from the stagnant w r aters. The novelty of my situation 
was amusing, but I had no wish to repeat such an expe- 



ALBION. 2&9 

riment. With only once placing my portmanteau on the 
seat from the apprehension that my vehicle would be 
floated, and one repair, by tying a broken axle-tree, we 
reached English Prairie, in Illinois. These lakes of 
pasture are bounded by coasts of forest, and numerous 
herds thrive on the rich herbage in which they may he 
concealed ; or if the land be wanted for tillage, with the 
roughest preparation, one crop of Indian corn, which wall 
amply pay the cultivator, clears his land, for any pur- 
poses he may wish. My driver fortunately knew Mr. 
and Mrs. Orange ; he had worked for them when their 
house was building. The lady is my brother-in-law's 
sister, and I seemed to her the living representative of all 
her kindred. They were not the only friends whom I 
expected to find in this distant land ; others I had known 
and esteemed many years before, when none of us 
dreamed of an interview in the Prairies of Illinois ! 

I visited friends of my former days at Warnborough, 
and called upon many estimable and intelligent resi- 
dents of the neighbourhood. An air of comfort and 
prosperity pervaded every dwelling ; while it was evident 
that what was enjoyed, was the fruit of their own inde- 
pendent industry. It would be an egregious mistake, 
for persons to emigrate to these remote prairies, if they 
purposed depending much upon hired labour for their 
luxuries, or even for their comforts. 

Judging from the names given to the roads around 
Albion, it might be supposed it was a city of no ordinary 
dimensions, but as we drove along Bond-street, I did 
not observe a single house. The name of the prairie and 
of the town prepares one to find a truly English settle- 
ment, and there is much of the manners and the mind, 
which would adorn any society in the father -land ; but 
25* 



290 ALBION. 

where was the temple of God ? It struck me with no 
small degree of surprise, that so many of my country- 
men should have erected for themselves not merely 
commodious, but elegant residences, for this part of the 
country, without securing a place for the worship of God ! 
There is a convenient town-hall, or court-house, where 
worship might be statedly held : but I believe nothing has 
been attempted except a sort of apology for it, by reading 
a sermon. This seems rather to arise horn indifference 
than from the prevalence of infidelity, as at Harmony- 
What a contrast does it present to the conduct of the 
early pilgrim fathers, who laid the basis of their country's 
glory in religion and education, and reared the whole 
structure of their civil institutions on the principles taught 
in scripture ! 

A request that I would stay and preach on Lord's-day 
was cheerfully complied with ; when I took the liberty 
of urging a solemn regard to divine worship, lest by lay- 
ing the very foundations of society, in this its elementary 
state, in a neglect of God and his gospel, their names 
should be handed down, desecrated, to posterity. May 
God dispose the hearts of some to undertake what can 
be done for his own glory ! 

There is a small baptist church not very far from 
Albion, but I could not hear of any lying in the route 
which I now found it necessary to keep. I had seemed 
accommodation for Sunday night at the house of 
Col. Mills, instead of returning to Mr. Orange's. I 
wished to see the Rev. Mr. Bliss, a presbyterian clergy- 
man, of whom I had been informed, and to hear or 
preach for him, as the case might be ; it was also more 
on my way to Vincennes. I parted with my beloved 
friends in the midst of a prairie, to meet perhaps no more 



ILLINOIS. 291 

upon earth. It was to me an affecting adieu ; to them 
much more so. I was leaving them to return to the 
land of our fathers, to our kindred and friends ; but 
they were to remain, separated by the wide Atlantic from 
those most dear to them. May all at last meet in the 
regions where there is "no more sea ! " 

By some means, my driver failed in discovering 
Mr. Bliss's church ; and on reaching Col. Mills's, I was 
mortified to learn that we had passed him on the road. 
I was still more sorry to find that my host had been 
deeply regretting his not having been made acquainted 
with my calling as a minister, they would have been so 
highly gratified to have assembled a congregation, and 
have enjoyed a religious service. I smiled at the idea of 
a congregation in a spot so remote, and inquired whence 
they were to be gathered ? where convened ? and how 
summoned ? He told me that a blast of his horn would 
have quickly brought a considerable number under a 
grove opposite his house. It was unhappily too late to 
witness so interesting a scene. 



Section III. 

Albion to Utica. 

Illinois, with a territory of nearly 60,000 square 
miles, has a population of a quarter of a million, or 
300,000. which is rapidly increasing. The methodists 
are the most numerous religious body, having 70 circuits, 
and 150 local preachers, with 14,000 members. There 
are sixty presbyterian churches, forty-eight preachers, 
and 2000 communicants. In ten congregations of Ro- 



292 ILLINOIS. 

man Catholics, there are 5000, including all ages. The 
other denominations, except the baptists, are at present 
inconsiderable ; the episcopalians having very few socie- 
ties and ministers, and the congregationalists not many 
more, both together not amounting to thirty. The places 
of worship are small, but are multiplying and improving 
among all parties. Yery commendable efforts are making 
to establish Sunday-schools, and the cause of education 
generally is taken up with intelligence and spirit, pro- 
mising the happiest results. The enlightened advocates 
of energetic measures assembled at Yandalia, in 1834, 
to further this object, so essential to the prosperity of the 
state, availed themselves of all the experience of the older 
republics. 

Some members of the baptist churches take an active 
part in these movements, and are in other respects influ- 
ential. They have twenty associations, containing 200 
churches, in which 135 ministers are employed ; and the 
communicants are about 6000. Whatever evils exist in 
neighbouring states, are found in the churches here, but 
it is a growing opinion, and, as it appeared^ to me, 
well founded, that "reformers," and "regulars," and 
" christians,"* which latter are mostly arians, will soon 
cease to exert their disturbing influence on the general 
body. The missionary, bible, tract, and education socie- 
ties, are finding new supporters every day. 

The want of an educated ministry, wholly devoted to 
the pastorate of the churches, and supported by them, is 
more felt ; and corresponding efforts are made to supply, 
as well as to increase the demand for such. Another 
generation will not be satisfied with the visit of a minis- 

*The first syllable is pronounced as in Christ. 



ILLINOIS. 



293 



ter once in a month to spend two days preaching in some 
hovel, or private house, or in a grove. The churches, 
indeed, assemble for prayer when the preacher is absent ; 
or follow his movements, and worship at one of his 
neighbouring churches, if not too distant; or mingle 
with the nearest congregation of another denomination, 
which may happen to have preaching ; but these expe- 
dients are going out of fashion. Thirty years ago there 
were not 10,000 settlers scattered over this whole state, 
so that no human legislation could have established a 
different system. 

Among the auspicious efforts of the baptists, is the 
Alton seminary and college. Our enterprising and 
energetic brother, the Rev. J. M. Peck, of Rock Spring, 
is the devoted agent of that institution ; he has laboured 
in the " far west" eighteen years, and is the author of a 
very valuable gazetteer of Illinois. No man is better 
acquainted with the great valley in this particular meri- 
dian. The trustees of Alton hold more than 300 acres 
of land, on which already a handsome two-story brick 
building with stone basement is erected. Among the 
fifty pupils, several are studying for the ministry, and 
efforts are in successful course to erect a theological de- 
partment, and provide a fund both for professors and 
beneficiaries, which altogether will require $25,000. It 
is situated on the north-west bank of the Mississippi, a 
few miles above the junction of the Missouri, and at 
rather a greater distance from the entrance of the Illinois 
into the mightiest of rivers. 

Alarm excited by Roman Catholic operations, urges 
on every effect of all protestant societies. The popish 
policy (whether imaginary or real) which all parties are 
determined to defeat, is thus described — " Jesuits and 



294 



ILLINOIS. 



monks come in — massive buildings rise as by magic — 
infidel principles are artfully instilled into the minds of 
our sons; and nunneries with fashionable boarding- 
schools, surrounded with every fascination, will mould 
the feelings and morals of our daughters — so that when 
they become mothers, they may teach all their little ones 
to be good and loyal subjects of his holiness at Rome." 
This note of alarm is seen in print, in every conceivable 
form ; it is heard on platforms and in pulpits, and in 
every social circle. Missouri more than Illinois, is said 
to present evidence that it is not mere conjecture. It is 
added, " Pass down the Mississippi, and on both sides 
of this great river to the Gulf of Mexico, you will find 
the same measures in train ; the same plans to control 
the interests of education. 

It is remarkable that the baptist churches of Illinois, 
more than twenty years ago, were first divided on the 
subject of slavery ; many of them would enter into no 
compromise or correspondence with associations where 
■ u the spirit and practice of involuntary, perpetual, 
hereditary slavery prevailed? The other party 
would not consent to restrict their associational inter- 
course within the limits from which slavery was ex- 
cluded by law, but wished to co-operate with their breth- 
ren in Missouri and Kentucky — hence the rupture, 
which has been aggravated by differences on other 
topics, ever since 1818, when the subject of missions 
was introduced. A few slaves brought into Illinois be- 
fore the revolutionary war, are still living ; they cannot 
be sold out of the state, and their children are free. 
There are also several hundred " indented coloured ser- 
vants." Besides these apprentices for a term of years, 
there are about as many free blacks, making a total of 



ILLINOIS. 295 

not more than 1,500. The free people have mostly 
been manumitted in slave states, and consequently have 
been obliged to leave them : their numbers increased so 
fast from this cause, laws were passed for the purpose of 
keeping them out : they were required to do what was 
obviously an impossibility, viz. to give bonds that they 
would never become paupers. 

With great regret I turned my face toward the east. 
Had my time permitted, I would gladly have crossed 
the state of Illinois, if for no other purpose than to have 
visited the church of coloured people at St. Louis, and 
their invaluable pastor, the Rev. J. B. Meachum. Mr. 
Peck, in concert with the Rev. J. E. Welch, some years 
ago laboured west of the Mississippi, sanctioned by the 
Baptist Board of Foreign Missions; while there, he 
established a Sunday school for the coloured race at St. 
Louis, and soon had 100 of all ages, and nearly all 
slaves. Frequent instances of conversion occurred, and 
during the eighteen years of his labours, he has baptized 
several hundreds of that class, many of whom have died 
happily. In two or three years the coloured members 
of the church were more numerous than the whites, and 
were formed into a separate branch. In J 825, one of 
their number displayed talents for the ministry, and was 
ordained pastor over his brethren, as a separate baptist 
church. They have since built a chapel, thirty-six by 
forty feet; have service three times on Lord's day, 
and twice in the week; maintain Sabbath schools of 
100 scholars, adults and children ; and a week-day school 
of forty, who are taught by a pious Scotchman, a gradu- 
ate of Glasgow University. The pastor, Mr. Meachum, 
is no ordinary man ; he was originally a slave in Ken- 
tucky, and having first purchased his own time, and 



296 ILLINOIS. 

then secured his freedom, he next bought his aged father^ 
from Virginia, who was a goodly man, and had been a 
baptist preacher forty years ! Having removed to St. 
Louis, in 1816, with only $5 remaining, he left his wife 
and children slaves ; but did not forget them, nor their 
bonds. By incredible industry and economy as a cooper 
and carpenter, for eight long weary years he at length, 
• in 1824, by the goodness and mercy of God, was enabled 
to purchase his wife and children ! A history like this 
speaks volumes to America and to Britain ! How many 
thousands of equally noble specimens of human nature, 
lay claim to an African origin ! But did the solicitude 
of the man of God, on the subject of slavery, terminate 
here? Rescued himself from bonds, was he in pros- 
perity as oblivious of his former companions in tribula- 
tion, as was Pharoah's butler of Joseph ? No ; his Lord 
and Master had distinguished him with considerable 
worldly wealth, in consequence of the rise in the value 
of lands, which when he was enabled to purchase, were 
of little worth ; and one use he makes of his wealth is 
to purchase slaves ! — He buys, but never sells. When 
a family of them, in distress and agony at the prospect, 
are about to be sold, and separated, his heart has learned 
to feel, his eye to pity, and his hand to help ; he becomes 
the purchaser ; gives them the opportunity to pay their 
own price ; goes to the court and takes proper steps for 
their freedom. He is now legally the owner of twenty 
slaves, mostly children, to whom he shows paternal 
kindness, while he protects them, and prepares them for 
destined liberty. Secular affairs, under all these circum- 
stances, absorb much of his time, but he is the humble, 
pious, and devoted pastor of a church of 200 members. 
The manumission of slaves, and the cause of eman- 



ILLINOIS. 297 

cipation generally, is rendered exceedingly difficult by 
that national sensitivenesss, which not only repels foreign 
interference, but is equally jealous of all intermeddling of 
even a sister state, with that of a neighbouring republic. 
Each separate government is determined to maintain its 
own independent course with reference to slaves and 
slavery ; to enact its separate laws, and to deal with the 
whole subject in its own sovereign legislature. So far is 
it from being probable that congress will pass a general 
law for the abolition of slavery, it does not even aid the 
efforts of individual philanthropists who would give 
freedom to their own slaves. 

In leaving Illinois, I met with another adventure, the 
consequences of which were providentially unimportant. 
I had been expressly cautioned against driving over a 
long corderoy or gridiron sort of bridge, in crossing a vast 
mud-hole where the water was now deep, and the logs 
and trunks of trees were rotten. My directions were to 
keep in the water to the left. We naturally supposed 
we were to proceed by the side of the bridge, whereas it 
was meant that we should diverge far into the forest, 
keeping the track of other wheels, which we did not 
observe. When we reached the deepest part of the mud, 
the poor exhausted horse stuck fast, and every effort only 
rendered the case more hopeless and desperate ; he be^ 
gan to plunge, and threatened to lie down. It happened 
that a horseman with a flock of sheep was in the road ; 
I implored his assistance still further to dilapidate the 
bridge by rolling towards us two or three logs. By 
these I contrived to leave the wagon, and being left to 
my resources, I completed my raft by using more tim- 
ber, so as to venture on lightening the dearborn of my 
luggage. This was no sooner effected, than my young 

26 



298 INDIANA. 

driver, screaming at the top of his voice, " Ah ! Joe, Joe f 
(the name of the horse) you rascal you, what are you 
about Joe ! " vanished out of my sight. They were soon 
far away in the wood, and in due time made their ap- 
pearance at the end of the bridge, in a plight as forlorn 
and ludicrous as can well be imagined. All was speedily 
adjusted, and we reached the Wabash at Lavallette's 
Ferry. I had not anticipated difficulty on the Indiana 
side of the Wabash, but it proved a hazardous excur- 
sion. Two or three times we drove through what ap- 
peared widely-extended lakes of considerable depth, 
without a trace of road ; recovering the track as we 
could, on the other side : it appeared as if all the promise 
of a harvest was entirely swept away. 

Yincennes is an old French settlement. It is a hand- 
some town — the catholic chapel or cathedral is the most 
imposing building. Just before my visit, the last baptist 
family of the old church had joined the " reformers." I 
was told the work was thoroughly effected in that town, 
but there never had been many in communion. 

The journey across Indiana, I performed by the stage. 
in a very poor state of health, and greatly fatigued. We 
Were two days on the road, each day starting between 
two and three in the morning, to go not more than fif- 
ty-six miles. In many places, the torrents had washed 
the roads away ; so that the deep channel, which had 
been a road, was often avoided : and some of the mud 
holes were so deep, that the hind wheels sunk to the 
axle, as the weight was thrown back by the struggles 
of the horses. 

The churches of which I could learn any thing, seem 
to have built their places of worship so that a minister 
could serve three or four, which should be respectively 
within reach of a considerable number of the members. 



CINCINNATI. 299 

School-houses are frequently seen, and there is great de- 
mand for more competent teachers. The farms are ill- 
looking, and had not an air of comfort about them. One 
could not but suppose that the land was occupied by 
squatters in many places, who, not having secured a ti- 
tle to their lands, were careless of improvement. This 
was a time of great scarcity ; I was assured that many 
of the teams had not been fed with oats for days, and 
were starving on a short supply of inferior hay. It is 
quite possible for too large a proportion of capital to be ab- 
sorbed in manufactures. While the population of Ame- 
rica increases by millions, it will be a momentous object 
in political economy, to adjust the employment of capital 
and labour, so as to secure improvements in agriculture^ 
On reaching Louisville, I could scarcely recognise two 
or three friends, whom I had left in perfect health ; the 
cholera had so reduced and altered them. Perhaps this 
circumstance aggravated my own symptoms, so that it 
was with difficulty I could occupy Mr. Willson's pulpit, 
on my arrival. 

I ascended the Ohio to Cincinnati, and having been 
welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. W. Orange, who would have 
detained me as their guest, I found my home with Mr. 
Lynd, the pastor of the Sixth-street baptist church. His 
estimable wife was the daughter of the revered and be- 
loved Staughton, whose valuable memoirs have recently 
appeared from the able pen of Mr. Lynd. The church 
of which he is pastor, is in a flourishing state ; it was 
formed by a secession from a "reformed" church. Al- 
though of 120 baptized in three years, sixty have left the 
town, to travel further west, there are 259 members. 
The association with which this church is connected, is 
so impregnated with antinomian leaven, it was expected 
that at the next meeting, this, and one or two other 



300 CINCINNATI. 

churches, would be withdrawn from, for their counte- 
nance of missions, The Enon church, under the pas- 
toral care of Mr. Cook, is also prosperous, having 200 
members. There is a baptist church of fifty coloured 
people, which was formed from Enon ; it has a pastor, 
and, like the sister churches, supports a well-conducted 
sunday-school. Considerable efforts are made to instruct 
the blacks. One large school which I visited, and 
which I was assured was a fair specimen of others, pre- 
sented as respectable, attentive, and intelligent a body of 
children and young people, as I ever saw convened for 
the same purposes. I was gratified with the instructions 
given, so far as a brief observation enabled me to judge. 
The statements of the superintendent and teachers were 
highly satisfactory, and the whole school listened to a 
brief address, in a manner that would have done credit 
to any assembly; and, particularly, when I touched up- 
on the importance of their labouring to acquire greater 
correctness of language and articulation, and to help 
themselves by their own improvement, that their friends 
might more effectually help them. 

A refreshing season of communion at the Lord's ta- 
ble was enjoyed at the Enon church, when both com- 
munities united, and the two pastors, with their English 
visitor, officiated. I preached in each of the houses, 
which are good and spacious ; one of them sixty-five 
feet by fifty-five, and the other of nearly the same di- 
mensions. Cincinnati contains a large number of 
places of worship, the proportion being nearly one for 
every 1000 inhabitants ; as there are said to be twenty- 
four churches, and the population is not quite 30,000. 

The various denominations are ably represented, and 
among them all there is a growing spirit of christian en- 



CINCINNATI. 



301 



terprise, while none have been altogether free from the 
discords and divisions of the times. 

From the formation of " The General Convention of 
Western Baptists," most auspicious results are antici- 
pated. Our churches have struggled with their full 
share of difficulties, but no section of the christian body- 
appears to rejoice in the anticipations of a brighter hope. 
Dr. S. M. Noel delivered the first discourse relative to 
this Western Convention, November 6, 1833. During 
the sittings at that period, not only was a constitution 
formed, but a series of reports were prepared, and subse- 
quently printed, admirably adapted to awaken the 
churches from their torpor. The first anniversary in 
1834, was not less interesting than the first meeting. 
Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, were represented 
in the first assembly, held at Mr. Lynd's, and many in- 
fluential brethren were present, as delegates, from the 
eastern states. At the convention of 1834, representa 
tives from Tennessee and Missouri united. The propos- 
ed objects are, "to survey the wide field of action lying 
before the denomination, to exchange and harmonize 
views on the great objects of effort, and excite new in 
terest and energy." 

Emanating from this convention, " The Western, 
Baptist Education Society" promises to exert the most 
powerful and happy influence throughout the western 
churches, by training up a competent ministry. A con- 
viction of the need of this has been deepening and spread- 
ing among them for many years ; and there will no Ion-, 
ger be cause to regret the want of general co-operation. 
The subject was introduced in the first meeting, and' 
referred to a special committee in the second. Alton 
seminary was generously offered by its trustees, who 
were authorized, to makeover the whole property, worth. 
2.6* 



302 CINCINNATI, 



; but it has been finally decided to fix the location 
of a new institution on the Kentucky side of the Ohio, 
but not far from Cincinnati. One hundred and twenty 
acres of land are obtained, which site already, from 
rapid improvement, is worth more than double the 
amount it cost. A theological seminary here, will, no 
doubt, combine the energies both of the wealthy and 
literary members of our churches. How great a change 
is this from the period, when, in consequence of prejudices 
against education, the influential baptists of the west de- 
clined the offer of Lane Seminary ! 

Mr. Lynd accompanied me to Dr. Beecher's, who wa3 
not at home, and I was not so happy as to see him dur- 
ing my stay. The presbyterian theological institution, 
of which he is president, has been in a state of the great- 
est excitement : half the students have retired from it ? 
in consequence of their determination to maintain anti- 
slavery principles and proceedings. They assert, " we 
have scrupulously performed all seminary duties, as our 
instructors will testify. We are not aware of having 
done any thing which could have been left undone, 
without a surrender of principle. On the contrary, 
we mourn that we have done so little, and suffered so 
little, for those who have lost every thing in the vortex 
of our rapacity ; and now, all manacled, trampled down, 
and palsied, cannot help themselves." In this spirit, 
many of the students devoted themselves to sunday- 
school teaching, to keeping evening schools, and main- 
taining friendly intercourse with the blacks ; but they 
deny ever having been guilty of boarding in their houses, 
or walking the streets with any of them, however re- 
spectable. In reply to the charge of giving the institu- 
tion a partisan character, they advert to the fact that the 
Colonization Society has received the most avowed and 



CINCINNATI. 303 

public support, from president, tutors, and trustees. This 
animosity has given rise to much mutual severity ; but 
when fifty-one young men append their names to a 
statement of reasons for retiring from this one semina- 
ry, to which more names would have been appended 
but for distance, and when it is known that similar 
views are cherished by many students in other colleges, 
it is impossible to resist the conviction that slavery must 
be abolished. 

There was nothing worthy of the name of a celebration 
on the 4th of July, at Cincinnati. The only attempt 
was the tricking out of the cartmen and their horses 
with a few ribbons, and the ascent of a balloon. In the 
early part of the day, we left the city, and attended a 
temperance commemoration of the day. . In the orchard 
where the festivities were held, I had been (not unwill- 
ingly) drawn into controversy on the subject of emanci- 
pation. I endeavoured to maintain the title of the black 
population, though of African origin, to those rights of 
men about to be proclaimed. The wild project of ship- 
ping off the coloured people to Africa was strenuously 
maintained, which I ventured to compare to an attempt 
to dip the Ohio dry with a bucket. 

If I was surprised at the absence of the customary 
procession and show on the 4th, I was still more so by 
a demonstration witnessed on the 6th. I had been 
prevented by increased indisposition from leaving the 
city, and was writing, when the sound of a drum, beaten 
to keep the regularity of march, caught my ear. I 
was struck with the very genteel and uniform dress of 
a large body of fine-looking men, who wore blue coats 
and white trowsers, before I noticed the contrast of the 
coal-black countenances of many of them with their 
snow-white linen. I soon saw they were all coloured 



304 CINCINNATI. 

people ! This fact filled me with surprise, but how wag 
it increased when the banners they carried were fairly 
in view ? On one was inscribed — 

" We by steam-boats live, and our families maintain." 
Another was a ship, intended to represent the first slave 
which sailed to the American shores ! A third, dis- 
played a kneeling negro ; his chains were broken off, 
and lo ! the genius of liberty hovered over the humble 
form, and was just about to place on his brows a chap- 
let of laurel ! I could scarcely credit the evidence of 
my own senses ; but from my heart did I bless God, 
that my eyes had beheld that sight. I learned that 
many were offended, and scandalized, at such a proces- 
sion ; but the parties were so truly respectable, and those 
who employed some of them so influential and deter- 
mined, that it was deemed expedient to let all pass. 
This was truly the right side of the Ohio; and surely these 
cheerful notes of freedom will not always be responded 
to across the silver stream, with nought but groans from 
the slave, while he sighs, " Am I not also a man and 
a brother?" 

Cincinnati is a noble city, there is more display and 
air of elegance about it than in its rival Louisville, from 
the recent prosperity of which it had received a tem- 
porary check. Both appear destined to grow and pros- 
per, though the latter will probably become more of a 
wholesale and warehousing mart, to supply the west. 

It was in Cincinnati, Mr. Campbell so effectually con- 
troverted the opinions of Mr. Owen : here, too, Mr. R. 
Dale Owen failed of engaging the attention he had an- 
ticipated, many being apprehensive that his opinions 
were atheisticaL Infidelity is, for the most part, con- 
fined to men of little education, and vulgar minds ; 
while scholars and professional men are generally be- 



DAYTON. 305 

lievers in revelation. The baptist churches here are far 
less agitated with proposals to reform, or to adopt one 
or other of the numerous devices of the day. Recent 
energetic efforts had proved singularly powerless and 
unproductive, thereby strengthening the hope and con- 
fidence of the regular and settled churches. As the 
numbers of those wedded to early habits is diminished 
by death, if not by some modification of their views ; as 
a niggardly economy in the churches yields to a gene- 
rosity always so richly compensated, by the improve- 
ment it secures ; and as the number of those who will 
consent to lead the devotions of the brethren in the 
social meetings of the churches for prayer, shall bear 
a greater proportion to that of advisers who insist on 
managing their affairs, the whole aspect of the west 
will brighten. 

I was not sorry to leave the channels of the rivers, 
and, in the hope of finding more repose than in the 
stage, went to Dayton in the canal boat ; it was less 
fatiguing, but consumed another day. Hamilton is a 
good town and well situated on the banks of the canal ; 
there is a baptist church of about sixty members. We 
reached Dayton at five in the morning ; it is a thriving 
place of 5000 inhabitants, remarkable for abundant water 
power, obtained by the junctions of Mad river, with the 
Miami. The streets are so wide as to spoil the general 
appearance, giving the whole a rambling and unfinished 
air. Division is not peculiar to the baptists here, but 
they far from being united. 

In nearly all the towns I have seen in the west there 
are reformed " churches ; '' most of the members of 
them with whom I conversed, w y ere pious persons, scarcely 
aware that any important difference existed between. 



306 



DAYTON. 



themselves and the regular baptist churches. I was in 
no instance invited to preach at any of their chapels. 
Mr. Clark has but a small church of forty members at 
Dayton, and is singularly unfortunate, inasmuch as 
while his people have been compelled to leave their place 
of worship, which is held by the "reformed," who are not 
much more numerous ; his church is one of those which 
expects to be withdrawn from by their hyper-calvinistic 
brethren, who pride themselves in the name of the " old 
school regulars." They at present worship in the same 
house with the German Lutherans and the christians ; 
but Mr. Clark preaches to another people, at New Car- 
lisle, sixten miles distant. The christians are a large 
and in many places influential body; where the preacher 
uses the ordinary phraseology common to themselves 
and the orthodox, without touching upon controversy, 
there are many members of their churches who would 
unhesitatingly be admitted into any regular churches ; 
but there are many who blend in communion with the 
reformed churches, who are decidedly arian in their 
opinions. The public school is taught by Mr Barney, 
whose sisters superintend the female department ; they 
are members of the baptist church, and are held in 
deserved estimation as enlightened teachers. I much 
regretted that here, as elsewhere, in the west, the period 
of my visit was that of the vacation. So far as oppor- 
tunities of observation and inquiry presented them- 
selves, the improvement in the numbers and the qualifi- 
cations of teachers appeared to be considerable. Where 
such teachers are members of churches, and known to 
be esteemed in those communities, the public have the 
very best guarantee for the effectual discharge of their 
important trusts. There are now so many institutions 



COLtJMBUgi 307 

whose chief object is the training of teachers, that, ere 
long, the district or common schools will be supplied 
with such as having been educated for that profession, 
will greatly elevate their calling. The manners, as well 
as the mind, will receive increasing attention, from those 
who are themselves more cultivated : and even the 
newest states threaten by far to outstrip our older coun- 
try in provisions for universal and liberal education. 
Some of the reports on education and on home missions, 
exhibit most deplorable views ; but when the object is 
avowedly to rouse attention to specific wants of the com- 
munity, the writer or speaker is sure to gauge the depths 
of wretchedness, so as rather to aggravate than dimin- 
ish the claims of the object he pleads for. On a careful 
comparison of such statements, with corresponding 
descriptions of the British population, including the 
dense masses of neglected children in our manufacturing 
towns and the metropolis, in the remore and scattered 
agricultural districts, and in Ireland, it may be confi- 
dently affirmed, that both for education and religious 
worship, the most recently-formed states in the Union, 
have more than equal advantages for all practical and 
essential purposes. 

I passed through Springfield to Columbus. Mr. 
Cressy, the pastor of those who had separated from the 
old church, was from home. The body was too feeble 
to divide, as Mr JefTeries is left with but few hearers ; 
and the new church will not consist of more than forty 
members. Every thing short of principle might well 
be sacrificed, to avoid division in these rising towns of 
the new world. Columbus promises to be a noble city : 
the state house is handsome, and, together with other 
public edifices, gives to the public square an air of mag- 



308 WOOSTER. 

nificence. The churches and schools of Columbus are 
in keeping, and you receive the impression that here the 
foundations are laid for a first-rate town ; already there 
are 5000 inhabitants. 

Ohio is an incomparable state ; the fertility of the 
soil, the diversity of forest and of prairie, its natural ad- 
vantages and incredible improvements, Lake Erie in the 
north, and the beautiful river, which is its southern 
boundary, with the grand canal running through the 
centre of the state to connect them one way, while the 
national road crosses it the other from east to west, all 
contribute to confirm the persuasion, that it will rank 
among the chief states of the Union. 

Wooster is a delightful town ; here I had time to 
attend a trial. The bench was truly adorned by such 
men as were there presiding, and the decorum of the 
whole court was such as to present a fine specimen of a 
free and intelligent people, interested in the due admin- 
istration of justice. I could not comprehend the whole 
of the cause, but was much impressed with the ease, 
order and simplicity of the proceeding. 

At this town the baptists are building a very good 
place of worship. Mr. Jones, the pastor, has commenced 
preaching every Lord's day, instead of dividing the la- 
bours of the minister with some distant church. The 
number of members is 120, notwithstanding many 
removals further west, and many recent deaths. This 
church had been enfeebled by an unusual mortality 
among its male members, so that but few remained to 
conduct its meetings, and twenty-six widows had been 
bereaved of their husbands. The " reformed " meet in 
the court-house, but are not very numerous. 

At Cleveland, a substantial and spacious place of 



CLEVELAND. 309 

worship is building for the baptist church ; and, as at 
many other towns, the people express a desire to have a 
settled pastor, who shall be neither farmer, nor mer- 
chant, nor pluralist. As these views extend, the moral 
influence of the denomination will greatly increase. At 
present, partly on this account, very many persons who 
are immersed previous to their union with christian soci- 
eties at the Lord's supper, become members of other 
communities. So prevalent is this practice in some 
towns, even in the New England states, that peedobap- 
tist ministers, both presbyterian and methodist, find it 
expedient to administer the rite as required. Hence the 
form which the controversy on strict communion is 
assuming is, not as with us, but whether any sanction 
shall be given to these baptized members of other 
churches, by allowing their transient communion with 
regular baptist churches. Mr. Willey, the pastor at 
Cleveland, was from home ; his church has been formed 
only two years, and contains eighty-six members ; and 
they have a school of 100. Many active and energetic 
labourers are found in this community, of whom I saw 
several ; but while they were solicitous to show me every 
attention, and to detain me till the morrow, the boat 
arrived, and amidst the confusion of a rapid transfer of 
passengers, I went on board. 

As you leave Cleveland, the shore appears very bold, 
and the town built upon the flat table land, presents 
several brilliant zinc-covered churches and buildings, 
which now glittered in the morning sun. The passage 
down the lake was refreshing, and whether it was 
from the contrast with the forests we had left, or with 
the deep indigo of the Atlantic wave, the lake looked 
like a silver mirror. The boat went up Grand River 
27 



310 BUFFALO. 

to Richmond, to take in wood, and on returning it was 
very striking to observe the distance to which the muddy 
stream could be traced as it meandered through the bril- 
liant waters of Erie. The day was fine, and closed by 
a glorious sun-set — a gorgeous theatre, whose commin- 
gled sapphire and pearly beauties and hues of wondrous 
variety enchanted with its magic changes till the curtain 
of night was dropped, and the whole scene vanished. 
Worn out with fatigue and indisposition, I retired early, 
and kept my berth till some time after the vessel reached 
Buffalo, and all was quiet on board ; then, in the early 
dawn of the Lord's day, I landed, and shortly after- 
wards found a welcome home with elder Tucker. Four 
years ago, so depressed was the state of this congrega- 
tion, there were scarcely 100 worshippers ; but Mr. 
Tucker has been so greatly blest, that the church now 
consists of 270 members, with a school of 120 ; and the 
cause generally is so flourishing, that it is determined to 
dispose of the present place of worship which holds 700 
or 800 persons, and to erect a more spacious edifice on a 
more eligible spot. Every arrangement was made to 
carry this design into immediate effect. 

Several important public meetings had been held in 
the city during the second week in July, which were 
closed on Sabbath evening the 12th, by one which had 
for its object the formation of what might be designated 
a city missionary society. All denominations were 
united in this object, and a large assembly was convened 
in a spacious presbyterian church. A good feeling pre- 
vailed, and it was stated that to provide tracts, and to 
support an itinerant preacher $1200 would be required 
for one year. This sum it was proposed to raise at the 
meeting, and small pieces of paper were handed round 



BUFFALO. 311 

the assembly, that persons who had not come adequately 
provided might inscribe their names for subscriptions 
In a few minutes the papers were returned, when the 
total amount was found to exceed the sum required by 
about $100. 

Considerable disturbance arose in the town, from what 
was regarded as a most atrocious deed. A black man 
threw a stone at a white man — it was reported that the 
white man was killed, and he was, in fact, considerably 
hurt. So far as information could be gathered, amidst 
a confusion of statements, this was one of numerous 
cases which occur of abduction from the British terri- 
tory. No doubt can exist, that many slaves escape into 
Canada ; and it is asserted, that a class of men are 
found base enough to carry on a sort of slave trade on 
the frontier by making reprisals of as many blacks as 
they can inveigle and carry off to the south. A family, 
whom the blacks asserted to be free, was in this way 
brought to Buffalo ; those who had them in custody, 
said they were slaves. An attempt was made by some 
coloured people to rescue them ; a scuffle ensued, and 
the stone was thrown, which thus endangered the life of 
the white. Anxious inquiry into the probable result in 
such cases compelled the conclusion, that generally the 
white man was certain of escaping with impunity, what- 
ever became of the black. 

The coloured people had a separate church here, but 
mutual distrusts and jealousies prevented their success. 
Some months before, certain extraordinary efforts for 
revivals were productive of serious evils ; so general 
and so excessive Avas the excitement occasioned by a 
regular itinerant revivalist, and two or three practised 
agents who travelled with him, that 600 persons were 



312 NIAGARA- 

declared to be converted in the course of a few days > of 
whom not more than one-tenth were thought to have 
continued in the word, as " disciples indeed." The two 
presbyterian ministers were unable to control the torrent, 
and shortly after left their, respective churches. The 
baptists deemed it prudent to stand aloof, but to hold pro- 
tracted meetings during the greater part of this period, in 
order to preserve their people from the infection; for 
which they were constantly prayed for, or rather 
against, by the revivalists, with very offensive allu- 
sions. 

The period fixed for rejoining my colleague had 
elapsed, and he had already passed through Buffalo, 
and was travelling through the state of New York. I 
had yet to visit Niagara, and before returning from 
Canada, I also purposed crossing Lake Ontario, to 
Toronto. By the customary routes, I attempted all with 
as little delay as possible. I gazed and listened, amidst 
those sublime and awful sights and sounds, where God 
pours the waters from the hollow of His hand, and 
they return their '-everlasting incense," accompanied 
with the deep and solemn voice of ceaseless adora- 
tion ! 

My excursion to Toronto was useless. In going, we 
ascended Brock's monument ; and, in returning, I stop- 
ped at Queenston, and crossed the Niagara to Lewiston, 
rode to the whirlpool, to spend three or four hours in the 
contemplation of that scarcely less absorbing and over- 
powering scene than the mighty Niagara ! At this 
angle of the river, the angry waters whirl round in the 
vast elbow, and in their impetuosity form many smaller 
eddies ; while the rush of the torrent, which is, in fact, 
Lake Erie flowing into Lake Ontario, assists the con- 



NEW YORK. 313 

iemplative mind in its musings on the stream of time 
flowing into eternity. 

In pursuing my way across the state of New York, 
I visited the same towns through which my colleague 
had passed. It is difficult to say, whether, in these re- 
gions, the mind of a stranger is more impressed with the 
beauties of nature, the creations of human art and in- 
dustry, or the indications of advancement in literature, 
morals, and religion, which every where present them- 
selves. Repetition of detail is omitted, but after a transient 
interview with several of those estimable brethren with 
whom Dr. Cox had sojourned, I finally reached the hos- 
pitable abode of our friends, Mr. and Mrs Kingsford, at 
Utica, in a state of great exhaustion, from the fatigue of 
so long a journey. The kindness there experienced, I 
record among the special favours of that benign Provi- 
dence, which constantly watched over me for good. 



2f* 



314 



CHAPTER IX. 

HAMILTON. — UTICA.^SCHENECTADY. — SARATOGA. — 

ALBANY. DIVISION OF THE CHURCH THERE, AND 

REVIVAL. 

The seminary at Hamilton is, in point of numbers, 
the most important theological institution in the baptist 
denomination. It differs from Newton, which is exclu- 
sively a divinity school, in being both a "literary and 
theological seminary." At Newton, all the students are 
previously qualified for the same theological studies ; 
but, at Hamilton, they may be almost equally divided 
into those who pursue a limited course, embracing only 
a good English education, with corresponding theologi- 
cal instruction ; and those who are deemed competent 
to a higher and more complete curriculum, embracing 
the ordinary classic and mathematical courses of col- 
leges, with a view to the appropriate studies of divinity. 
Among the former, are the greater part of those who 
enter the ministry at a mature age, and with few ad- 
vantages, who, in two, three, or four years, leave the 
institution to occupy stations suited to their talents. 
Among the latter, are those who have not commenced 
their whole course of study at Hamilton, but who enter 
fully qualified for the higher theological department. 
Their term of residence varies also according to circum- 
stances, from two to four years. But the pupils who 
enter early, to pursue the entire -system of instruction. 



HAMILTON. 315 

are required to spend four years in the collegiate, and 
two years in the theological department. The faculty, 
who are professors of worth and talent as distinguished 
as any whose names adorn the literary institutions of 
their land, are of opinion that, by a judicious and con- 
stant reference to the sacred office of the ministry in all 
the studies, selecting those which are important to a 
thorough preparation for the work, they may accomplish 
in six years as much as occupies seven by the plan of a 
previous university education, and subsequent removal 
to a theological school. Advantages and disadvantages 
present themselves in this, as in every other human de- 
vice, but certain it is that Hamilton has been greatly 
honoured ; many of her alumni having been faithful 
labourers, not only in the vineyard at home, but in the 
distant field of missionary enterprise. The magnitude 
and importance of this institution warrants the expecta- 
tion that it may equal in its results all the seminaries 
which the denomination supports in Britain. From the 
most inconsiderable commencement, by a slow but 
steady increase, it has advanced to its present state of 
" successful experiment." It was established in May, 
1820. There are at present about 180 students, who 
are accommodated in the college buildings. The charge 
for board is only one dollar per week ; and they enjoy 
most efficient tuition for the small sum of $16 per an- 
num. Many of these are beneficiaries on the funds of 
the New York Baptist Education Society, and of simi- 
lar associations in other states. Some support them- 
selves in part, by labouring on the farm of 130 acres — 
in the garden, the produce of which is consumed at the 
boarding house — by working in the carpenter's shop, or 
on the grounds, at a stipulated rate of wages ; while a 



316 HAMILTON. 

third class pay for their own board and tuition, by giving 
promissory notes, bearing interest, to be discharged as 
soon as convenient after they are settled. Some of these 
notes of course remain unpaid, but, in many instances, 
with a little economy, and by ■ the assistance of the 
churches who are benefited by their labours, they are 
enabled to liquidate the debt. By this means, the 
country is supplied ' with competent, and, in many in- 
stances, very able ministers and missionaries. Of the 
latter, seven have gone to Burmah and Siam ; six more 
are appointed to eastern missions, and have, doubtless, 
by this time set sail, leaving behind about fifteen en- 
gaged in diligent preparations for the same field of la- 
bour. Seven have gone to the Great Western Valley, 
and upwards of twenty, besides, are studying for the 
same destination. The last report represents the 
growth of the institution, as sound, healthful, and unin- 
terrupted. It has been cultivated with much toil, with 
many prayers and tears j and has been supported by 
the liberality of the saints, and the blessing of the King 
of Zion. 

The situation of the seminary is healthy and beauti- 
ful. There are two buildings about 100 feet by 60, and 
four stories high ; they are substantial but not uniform. 
The grounds are adorned with recently-built residences 
for the professors, and are replete with elegant conve- 
niences, which would not be scorned by " heads of" 
more ancient " houses" 

Every applicant must be recommended by the church 
of which he is a member, and he is.then admitted, by a 
vote of the faculty, after examination, as a probationer 
for three months. By this regulation, the churches have 



HAMILTON. 317 

the means of protecting themselves both from an un- 
godly and incompetent ministry. 

We attended separately the ordinary recitations in 
the classes, and had gratifying opportunities of investi- 
gating the progress of the students, as well as of hear- 
ing some discourses and orations delivered, expressly at 
our request. Professor Conant's class read Demosthenes, 
u7reg yjvi<rt<$avTo^ and on the following day in Hebrew, 
the 8th chapter of Genesis. They use Stuart's Chresto- 
mathy. Professor Taylor's class translated some mytho- 
logical dialogues in Jacob's Greek Reader, and gave a 
grammatical analysis. In the class of Professor Bacon 
two essays were delivered ; the one to show that " while 
man is destined to immortality, beasts in all probability 
perish ; " the other, " on the importance of rightly esti- 
mating our own talents." These essays were not sub- 
jected to critical remarks ; but were succeeded by an ex- 
tended and interesting discussion on moral questions, 
which elicited the views, and exercised the talents, both 
of tutor and pupils. The proficiency evinced in mathe- 
matics was considerable, under the tuition of Professor 
Eaton. Trigonometry was the chief subject of the day's 
examinations. 

The collegiate department is divided into four classes, 
the freshman, the sophomore, the junior, and the senior, 
which express different degrees of advancement in litera- 
ture and science ; the latter, besides the Greek and Latin 
classics, and the Hebrew language, are conducted through 
a course of intellectual and moral philosophy, and are 
made acquainted with Cicero's philosophical works. The 
theological department embraces two years, comprehend- 
ing Hebrew, biblical antiquities, principles of interpreta- 
tion and exegesis of the New Testament, intellectual phi- 



318 HAMILTON. 

losophy, together with a course of biblical, systematic and 
pastoral theology. Since the return of Professor Sears 
from Germany, on the eve of our departure, during the 
first few days after his arrival, we had the pleasure of 
interviews at New York. We fully anticipate that the 
institution will derive important advantages from his 
acquisitions during two years of absence on the European., 
continent. 

It ought to be observed, too, that the business of each 
class is begun with prayer. In this, as in the other insti- 
tutions, the students are usually dismissed at five in the 
afternoon, after being collected for singing and prayer. 
On one of the days of our visit, they consented to prolong 
their collegiate attendance, by delivering seven declama- 
tions. This afforded an opportunity of judging of their 
talents in composition and oratory. One or two only of 
the pieces, however, were original, and these were very 
creditable. Two or three evinced great proficiency in 
the art of public speaking, and were free alike from inele- 
gance of manner, and the vices of pronunciation ; others 
betrayed a neglect on both points, similar to that which 
we had regretted to observe elsewhere. Fidelity and 
affection alike require this remark ; especially as it is, 
though not equally, yet considerably, applicable to many 
of the institutions of both countries. 

The baptist church in the village is of some mag- 
nitude, and in a thriving state. It consists of about 
300 members, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. 
Perkins. 

Utica, in which locality a single settler fixed himself 
in 1784, contains at present, probably 12,000 or 14,000 
inhabitants, and is a handsome town, with its due share 



UTICA. 319 

of literary, ecclesiastical, and other establishments. It 
stands on the south bank of the Mohawk river, ninety- 
four miles west of Albany, and is encompassed by a 
richly-cultivated country. Trenton Falls are in this 
vicinity, and afforded us, as they have done many a 
stranger before, a day's excursion. On the varied beau- 
ties of the place, we do not suffer ourselves to expatiate ; 
we shall only, therefore, record our grateful remem- 
brance of the kind attentions of Mr. and Mrs. Kings- 
ford, Mr. and Mrs. Beebee, and others with whom we 
enjoyed pleasurable and profitable association. We occu- 
pied the sabbath in various labours in the town and 
neighbourhood. At Whitesborough there is a good con- 
gregation, and a church of 250 members, which appear- 
ed to be in a flourishing state, under the pastoral care of 
the Rev. A. L. Covell. At Deerfield Mr. Head labours, 
who is a plain, devoted servant of Christ. His ministry 
is much blessed among a church of about seventy or 
eighty members, and a sunday-school of thirty children. 
At this place, an opportunity occurred of witnessing a 
" donation party." The meaning of this is, that a day 
of social entertainment is held at a beloved pastor's 
house ; but the feast is furnished by the visitors, who take 
upon themselves the whole management. Whatever 
needle work is performed on that day, is with materials 
brought by the guests, and left in the shape of garments 
for the family — the books read or looked at, are presents 
for the children — many of the articles used, are an addi- 
tion to the household goods of the parsonage. Once a year 
a seasonable token of a people's regard is, in this way, 
left at the minister "s abode, in the shape of money, meat, 
meal, or otherwise ; for no one comes empty-handed, 
and cheerful devotion sanctifies the scene. 



320 MOHAWK VALLEY — SCHENECTADY. 

The dull uniformity of a canal navigation of eighty 
miles, from Utica to Schenectady, is relieved by the 
numerous charms of the Mohawk valley; in gliding 
through which an observant and reflecting mind will find 
ample opportuniy for the exercise of its powers, both in 
the study of character, as it presents itself, in the curious 
melange of literate and illiterate, leisurely and busy, 
thoughtful and thoughtless, sober and gay beings, that are 
thrown into temporary companionship in the long narrow 
cabin of the boat, and in recalling to view, from the depths 
of time gone by, the tribes that wandered in freedom, but, 
alas, the guilt and the barbarism of savage life, amidst 
those enamouring solitudes. 

Schenectady is distinguished by the Union College, 
belonging to the presbyterian denomination. It is a 
handsome building, finely situated, and in good esti- 
mation as a seminary of learning. The baptist church 
here was constituted in 1822 ; it has enjoyed some re- 
freshing influences from on high, has a flourishing Sun- 
day school, from which many have joined the church, 
and comprises 150 or 160 members. 

The Hudson River Association held its twentieth anni- 
versary on the 16th of June, in Schenectady. It is one of 
the largest and most effective associations in the country, 
embracing forty churches, and 527 members, of whom 
710 were received during the past year. The asso- 
ciation has a fund of about $1800 for the widows 
of ministers. They resolved to raise $800 during the 
year for the New York State Convention, and when the 
accounts were completed, it was found that nearly double 
the sum had been subscribed ; upon which, with charac- 
teristic zeal and generosity, they amended their proposal 



ALBANY. 321 

for the future, by agreeing to make the annual donation 
$1500. 

After twenty-two miles of rapid transmission by the 
rail-road, we found ourselves at Saratoga, happily associ- 
ated with the family of Wayland, embracing the father 
and sisters of our friend the president at Providence. 
Here we had anticipated a few days of retirement, but 
the kindness both of old and new friends prevented, and 
involved us alike in private and public engagements. We 
were introduced to«Chancellor Walworth, and a considera- 
ble number of episcopal and presbyterian clergymen. 
Saratoga imparts its name to an association of about 
twenty baptist churches, containing 2988 members, of 
whom 292 where added last year. The churches are well 
supplied with pastors wholly devoted to their work. Some 
of them have been greatly blessed ; among others that of 
Mr. Powell, pastor at Milton, who received eighty-five 
during the year before last. Mr. Parr has been settled at 
Ballston Spa only two years, and in that period has bap- 
tized 200 members ; the church now consisting of 250. 
The pastor at the Springs, the Rev. J. Fletcher, has a 
prosperous church of 194 members. Their 'Sunday- 
school consists of 200 children.. 

Albany, our next transient resting place, is the capi^ 
tal of the state of New York, and a city of great com- 
mercial importance. Its general appearance is imposing, 
and the traveller is gratified in perambulating its spacious 
and substantially-built streets j but he wonders so great a 
city should have been constructed above the shallows and 
rapids of the Hudson. Wealth and science have now to 
remedy the inconvenience ; and though the expenditure 
has been and will be prodigious, by contracting the width 

28 



322 



ALBANY. 



of the river, and deepening its bed with dredging ma- 
chines, these enterprising people are every day facilitat- 
ing the navigation. 

Among the edifices appropriated to divine worship, the 
church of Dr. Welch is conspicuous. Its splendid portico 
is formed to correspond with that of the female Academy ; 
so that while two such elevations contribute materially 
to improve the appearance of the street, they must also 
enhance the value of property in the immediate neigh- 
bourhood. A gentleman, connected with Dr. Welch's 
community, has erected private houses of great value on 
either side the place of worship, to complete the design 
of the architect. The basement story of the church is 
appropriated to schools, and a lecture room. Instead, 
therefore, of descending to them, as is frequently the cus- 
tom, the whole is so well contrived, that the ascent to the 
floor of the chapel is only a few steps, and the height of 
ceiling and dome is in due proportion to the building. 
While an ornamental elegance pervades the exterior, few 
structures are internally more chaste and pleasing. Six 
substantial, but not too massive pillars, support the galle- 
ries, and then rising to the ceiling, sustain the dome which 
springs from them. 

A custom prevails in America of constructing baptist- 
eries above the floors of the places of worship. This 
struck us as far preferable to the method of sinking them 
into the earth, as we do in England. An open, and. in 
some places, a handsome tank, with ends gracefully 
curved, is seen immediately in front of the pulpit. The 
space within is well carpeted ; and being capacious 
enough for a small table and two chairs, has an attrac- 
tive appearance. It is easy to imagine a contrivance for 
a platform around these baptisteries, raised about three feet 



ALBANY. 323 

higher than the floor, from which the administrator and 
the candidates "go down into the water." At Dr. 
Welch's church, they have preferred a plan of removing 
their open baptistery, when it is not required for the im- 
mersion of the christian converts. It is made to draw 
backwards and forwards: and it is placed on rollers, 
this, baptistery, even when filled with water, is easily 
moved by its appendage of simple mechanism. We 
must confess that we were exceedingly gratified with the 
construction of several arrangements, of a similar kind, 
but with slight variations ; and cannot but think that a 
raised platform is preferable to the. ordinary method 
adopted in oar own country. The descent into the 
water is equally convenient, and even suggests that of the 
banks of a river. A raised tank or bath could often be> 
obtained at a smaller expense than that which is incurred 
by sinking a baptistery. 

Both the churches at Albany have eminently prospered. 
Mr. Ide who succeeded Dr. Welch at the old church, 
where the greatest number of members remained, has 
enjoyed a remarkable revival. Notwithstanding the 
amicable separation of those who went to form the new 
church, Mr. Ide had 340 members. His own account of 
this season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord is 
thus given by him in a letter dated Feb. 17th : — 

a A few weeks since, indications became apparent that 
a work of grace had commenced among us. A deeper 
seriousness, and a more earnest attention to the word, 
were visible in the congregation ; a spirit of repentance, 
and confession, and ardent supplication, was diffused 
through the church ; some drops of mercy fell, and 
twelve were baptized. At this juncture, the church, 
after solemn deliberation and prayer for divine guidance. 



324 ALBANY. 

appointed a series of religious meetings, as a special 
effort for the conversion of sinners. This effort was pre- 
ceded by a fast, at which the presence of God was mani- 
fest among his people. They humbled themselves before 
him, confessed their sins, and prayed for the revival of 
liis work, with a depth and fervour of feeling, which 
could be produced only by that blessed • Comforter,' from 
whom all holy desires proceed. The public services then 
commenced, and were earned on principally by the assist- 
ance of brother Parr, of Ballston, who laboured with us 
during their continuance, with great acceptance and 
efficiency. The manner in which the meetings were 
conducted, was perfectly simple ; no machinery was put 
in operation ; the only means employed, were the preach- 
ing of the word, prayer for the Holy Spirit, and special 
instruction in the case of convicted sinners. The ap- 
pearance of the assemblies, and of the meetings for 
religious inquiry, was calm, serious, attentive ; and the 
stifled sigh and falling tear were the only external marks 
of the deep feeling which pervaded them. The heavenly 
influence descended like a sweet, gentle, silent rain, melt- 
ing and subduing the heart with its noiseless but irre- 
sistible power. 

" The number of conversions which have taken place 
none can compute but He who ' knoweth them that are 
his.' Last Sabbath fifty-two were baptized. The 
ordinance was witnessed by an immense congregation, 
and thousands who came, were unable to gain admit- 
tance. The whole number baptized since the com- 
mencement of the work, is sixty -four. Of these, about 
thirty are heads of families in the prime of life. The 
remainder are young men and women, many of them 
teachers in the Sabbath school, or members of the bible 



ALBANY. 325 

class. The work still progresses, and cases of hopeful 
conversion are almost daily occurring. We baptize 
again on the first Sabbath of March ; and another nu- 
merous group of rejoicing converts is waiting, with 
solemn expectation, to follow their Redeemer into his 
baptismal grave; and thus to avow their cordial belief 
of the doctrines, and their cheerful submission to the 
duties which this sacred ordinance so beautifully and so 
expressively symbolizes. May God continue his work, 
till this city of moral death is filled with a living, active, 
and devoted piety ! 

" G. B. Ide." 

Such signal success as that enjoyed by our brethren 
at Albany, may be regarded as the divine sanction of 
that truly christian spirit by which the parties were ac- 
tuated not many months before, in their attempts to 
enlarge the church by an amicable division. Of this 
movement, we present the following account from each 
party, which, though it be long, is so deeply interesting, 
and so strikingly characteristic of America, that we caiir 
not persuade ourselves to omit it. The first church 
write thus to the Hudson River Association : — " Seldom 
has a transaction of such delicacy and importance been 
consummated with so much apparent harmony. In the 
progress of the measure it was our frequent and earnest 
prayer, that nothing might arise to bring a reproach on 
the cause of the Redeemer, or mar the union of his peo- 
ple. That prayer has been granted. When the period 
of separation actually arrived, emotions of regret and 
anxiety were excited, which few if any of us had fully 
anticipated, and which were most sensibly felt by those 
who had been associated in the church from its origin, 
28* 



326 ALBANY. 

and during its whole existence had watched, with in- 
tense solicitude, over its growing interests. While we 
could not but rejoice in the prospect of becoming '- two 
bands,' we well remembered the time when we were 
few in numbers and feeble in resources ; and, as we 
reviewed all the way in which the Lord had led us to- 
gether, we felt how painful is the separation of those 
whose hearts have become united by a long companion- 
ship. 

" From the strong attachment which the church and 
congregation felt to our late pastor, — an attachment 
formed and cemented by years of affectionate and suc- 
cessful labour among them, and impaired by no counter- 
acting circumstance, — it was not surprising that the 
more wealthy and prominent part of the church, and 
many of the congregation, should embark with him in 
his new enterprise ; and it was, perhaps, more from a 
sense of duty than from choice, that more did not do the 
same. Anterior to the proposed division, a meeting was 
held for the purpose of selecting a suitable person to take 
charge of the first church after the contemplated resig- 
nation of Dr. Welch. The result was the unanimous 
election of our present pastor ; proposals were accordingly 
made to him, which he accepted, and about the first of 
October, commenced his ministry among us. 

"Previous to the arrival of brother Ide, those who 
chose to identify themselves with the new interest, re- 
ceived their dismission ; the division principally took 
place on the 22d of September. Letters, however, have 
been granted at several subsequent meetings, until the 
whole number dismissed to constitute the Pearl-street 
church, is 130. 

" When, after the division, we surveyed the strength 



ALBANY. 327 

that remained, and found that though somewhat larger 
in number, in other respects, and especially in pecuniary- 
ability, we were greatly inferior ; when we witnessed, in 
in addition, the departure of so many of the congrega- 
tion, on whom we had placed dependence, and realised 
the responsibility we had incurred, and the scanty re- 
sources left us ; we w r ere deeply depressed and humbled, 
and felt, in the sadness of our hearts, ready to adopt the 
desponding inquiry of the prophet — 'By whom shall 
Jacob arise ? for he is small.' — We had, however, as- 
sumed the obligation, and could not recede, — an obliga- 
tion which we should hardly have dared to assume had 
we foreseen the weak condition in which the separation 
would place us. 

" In this state of things our present pastor commenced 
his labours, greatly disheartened by a prospect so diffe- 
rent from what he had been led to expect, while few of 
the band around him could venture to give him any 
encouragement. Soon, however, after his public services 
commenced, the congregation began to increase, and 
some who had not previously attended with us, became 
members of the society. In a few weeks, also, the pre- 
sence of the Holy Spirit was indicated in our assemblies. 
The word was sealed with a divine energy — professors 
were quickened — backsliders reclaimed— and some of 
the impenitent awakened and converted to God ; so that 
by the 1st of January, our number had been increased 
by twelve baptisms, and several additions by letter. At 
this period the tokens of mercy became still more marked 
and decisive. An increased spirituality pervaded the 
church, our social and devotional meetings became 
crowded, the church began more fervently to wrestle 
with God for his blessing, and to cry with yearning and 



328 ALBANY. 

importunate desire for the revival of his work. An un- 
usual attention to the word, and a deep solemnity were 
manifested in our Sabbath assemblies. Many, on per- 
sonal inquiry, confessed themselves convicted of sin, and 
concerned for their salvation. And through the whole 
congregation there existed a seriousness and tenderness 
of feeling, and a susceptibility of impression, which could 
have been produced only by Him who holds the hearts 
of men in his hands. From these appearances we could 
no longer doubt that God was about to ' hasten his work/ 
and that the indications of his presence summoned us to 
action in language similar to that he addressed to his 
ancient servant, 'When thou nearest the sound of a 
going in the tops of the mulberry trees, bestir thyself? 
Impressed by such unequivocal intimations of the Divine 
will, the church took into consideration the propriety 
of devoting a portion of time to special religious exercises. 
After solemn deliberation and prayer for divine guid- 
ance, it was unanimously resolved that the leadings of 
the Holy Spirit, exhibited in the state of the church and 
congregation, justified and demanded such a measure, 
and we feel constrained to adopt it, humbly trusting in 
God to bless it, and deeply sensible that all success de- 
pends on his gracious favour. The services thus ap- 
pointed commenced on the 25th of January, with a 
season of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. It was a 
day never to be forgotten. The God of grace was evi- 
dently present, melting his people before him, subduing 
then into penitence, and producing in their hearts the 
prayer of faith, and exciting desires and expectations 
which language seems too feeble to utter. The exer- 
cises were continued the greater part of two weeks. 
The result of these services during their continuance 



ALBANY. 329 

and since their close, has been such as to strengthen 
our hands and encourage our hearts far beyond our 
most sanguine hopes. In the effects which have fol- 
lowed, we have the most convincing proof that the 
measure was approved of heaven, and that God was 
with us of a truth ; for we have beheld the sovereign 
power of his grace displayed in bowing a multitude to 
the cross of Christ, and uniting them to his people. 
And let others judge of it as they may, we know that to 
us it has been ' life from the dead." 1 From that period 
we have experienced an unbroken prosperity : our re- 
sources are now, we trust, sufficient to meet our liabili- 
ties. Our congregation has been constantly increasing, 
and is now respectable. We have enjoyed eight baptis- 
mal seasons during the last six months, at which 130 of 
our dear congregation have made a good profession, be- 
fore many witnesses ; of these, fifty-four are heads of 
families in the prime of life, and forty are males ; several 
of the latter are men of influence and pecuniary ability, 
and promise to supply the places of those valued brethren 
who left us to become pillars of our sister church. The 
baptized converts remain steadfast in the faith, give evi- 
dence of growth in grace, are ready to engage in every 
work of benevolence, and bid fair to make active and 
useful christians ; and while we have been compelled to 
pass the solemn sentence of exclusion upon two of the 
old members, no case of discipline has occurred among 
the new. 

" In review of what God has done for us, we find 
ample occasion to adore, with humble gratitude, the un- 
searchable riches and sovereignty of his grace. When 
we were sinking in despondency, were dismayed at our 



330 ALBANY. 

weakness, and torn from the supports on which we had 
been accustomed to lean, it was then that he revealed his 
arm, and travelled before us in the greatness of his strength, 
to show that his work is accomplished £ not by might, nor 
by power.' but by his omnipotent Spirit. ' Not unto us,' 
may we exclaim, e not unto us, but unto God belong 
the praise, the efficiency, and the glory.' In conclusion, 
permit us to say, that in the prosperity which has 
attended both our sister church and our own, since the 
division, we rejoice in the assured conviction, that the 
attempt to establish a new interest in our city, has greatly 
widened our field of usefulness, extended the influence 
of baptist principles,, given an onward impulse to the 
cause of truth and holiness, and received, on the good it 
has accomplished, the broad and legible seal of God. 
You, we doubt not, will unite to i magnify the Lord 
with us.' 

" We have three sabbath-schools connected with the 
church, one of which has been recently commenced. 
We have also collected for the Baptist State Convention 
and Home Mission, $100." 

The Pearl-street Church make the following state- 
ment : "Although for many years we have been associ- 
ated with you in the labours and sacrifices of the kingdom 
and patience of Jesus Christ, yet we are now, in the holy 
providence of God, in a position that renders it necessary 
to solicit admission into your body. The history of the 
past, so fraught with the gracious manifestations of the 
divine faithfulness and goodness, and the reminiscence 
of endearing incidents, connected with our mutual effort 
and mutual enjoyment, inspires hope for the future, that 
our re-union with you, will tend, under the divine bless? 



ALBANY. 331 

ing, to promote the glory of God, and our own spiritual 
improvement. With the peculiar and interesting cir- 
cumstances that have combined to display the power 
and grace of the great Head of the church, in the pro- 
gressive advancement of his cause in our city, you are 
for the most part familiar ; it is unnecessary therefore to 
occupy your time with the detail — a very brief refer- 
ence, however, to some of the most prominent incidents 
in our movement, will not, we presume, be deemed im- 
proper. 

" The power and favour of God attending the ministry 
of his word, had so increased the number and resources 
of his people, that in the year 1833, an impression rested 
upon the minds of many, that the abounding mercy of 
God, in increasing our strength, demanded renewed ex- 
ertion ; and that efforts should be made, to extend the 
influence of the denomination, by the promotion of a 
new interest in this city. The indications of the divine 
will were, in our judgment, too clear to be misunder- 
stood, and too strongly marked with impelling goodness 
and grace, to be resisted — the voice of his Providence, 
was to us loud and distinct, requiring his spiritual Israel 
to move forward; under this conviction, and in obedi- 
ence to what we contemplated as the imperative claims 
of solemn duty, 122 members of the church, united with 
their pastor, and several gentlemen of the congregation, 
whose generous and disinterested co-operation materially 
aided the church in this effort to advance the kingdom 
of Christ. Pecuniary sacrifices were necessarily requir- 
ed to a large amount ; and the requisition was cheer- 
fully met by our brethren with a ready zeal and libe- 
rality, that clearly evinced the sanctity and simplicity of 



332 ALBANY. 

purpose with which the enterprise was commenced, and 
prosecuted, under the favour of God, to a happy comple- 
tion. A commodious and beautiful house has been erect- 
ed in the centre of the city, and on the 26th October, 
1834, set apart by religious exercise for the worship and 
service of God. On the 27th, a council composed of 
delegates from churches connected with this association, 
decided to recognise us as a regularly-constituted and in- 
dependent church of Christ ; as such, we have since con- 
tinued to worship God, celebrate his ordinances, and ad- 
minister the discipline of his house. A summary of our 
faith will be furnished you by our delegation, by refer- 
ence to which you may ascertain our views of gospel 
truth. 

u And now, dear brethren, acknowledging no sove- 
reignty but the unlimited supremacy of the King of 
Zion : no law of binding obligation in his spiritual king- 
dom but his holy word : feeling it to be at once our duty 
and our privilege to maintain inviolably those holy prin- 
ciples of truth and righteousness that have ever distin- 
guished, and that still constitute the glory of the church 
of Christ, we respectfully solicit the favour of admission to 
membership in your body. 

u With relation to our present state, we may truly say 
that the God of grace still smiles upon us with his fa- 
vour, and constantly furnishes new motives for profound 
humility and grateful praise. Our increase in number 
has not been large, yet the faithful ministry of the word 
has been graciously owned by the Holy Spirit, and the 
saving strength of our Redeeming God revealed to some 
precious souls who have been constrained to renounce the 
world, and submit to his institutions* We feel that our 



ALBANY. 333 

labours, responsibilities and sacrifices have not been l in 
vain in the Lord/ since the house we have built for the 
glory of his name, has already become the birth-place of 
immortal spirits, and a scene of holy joy, where the God 
of love has deigned to visit his people, and unveil the 
glory of his presence. The church continues to walk in 
happy union, in obedience to the ' new commandment ' 
of its glorious Head — united in affection and senti- 
ment, in their councils and measures, they present the 
distinguishing and essential mark of discipleship in their 
1 love one to another.' That this harmony may continue 
uninterrupted, so far as human means may secure its 
perpetuity, a cautious discrimination is exercised in the 
admission of members, and in the cultivation of their 
spiritual gifts, influenced by the conviction that the in- 
terests of Zion are best promoted, the beauty and strength 
of the church of God enhanced, by the consistency, 
unity, and concentrated energies of its members. 

" We have commenced, and we trust efficiently, a re- 
gular system of christian benevolence, comprising, in 
connexion with objects of a more local character, the fol- 
lowing objects of benevolent operation : — education, 
American bible society, baptist general tract society, wi- 
dows' fund, domestic missions, sabbath infant schools, 
orphan asylum, foreign missions, mite society. 

"Our very recent organization, and. the impractica- 
bility of immediately collecting the subscriptions, renders 
it impossible to report, at this session, the amount we may 
obtain for the promotion of these objects. We send by 
our delegation, for the State Convention, $100. 

" We have, connected with the church, two bible 
classes, well attended, — and two sabbath-schools. 

29 



334 ALBANY. 

" The church was constituted 27th October, 1834, 
with 123 members. Received by baptism 15, by letter 
16 ; dismissed by letter 5, by death 1 ; leaving the pre- 
sent number 148. 

" Sanctioned by the church at their regular meeting; 
held June 11th, 1835." 



335 



CHAPTER X. 

DR. COX'S JOURNEY TO THE STATE OF MAINE. 

From Albany through New- York' and Boston to Portland. — 
Sacramental Sabbath.— Brunswick. — Topsharn. — Merry- 
meeting Bay. — Augusta.— Waterville. — Account of the Col- 
lege and the Commencement. — Visit to Bangor. — Lumber 
Mission. — Indian Settlement:— Account of the Country, 
and of the Baptist Denomination in Maine* 

Th e approaching anniversary of the college of Wa- 
terviville, determined me to hasten my departure from 
Albany on a separate expedition to the state of Maine. 
Accordingly, on Wednesday, the 29th of July, I de- 
scended the far-famed Hudson or North River 150 miles 
to New- York. The renewed, ever-renewing, and de- 
lightful asssociations of memory with the magnificence 
of the Catskill Mountains — the enchantments of the 
scenery on the rock-bound and wood-covered shores, as 
they arose, approached, and receded, in endless succes- 
sion, like the visions of romance — and the exciting in- 
terest awakened by the little fleets of vessels, with their 
snow-white sails, continually gliding into view, one by 
one, from behind ever}^ bend and turn of the river, re- 
joicing in the breeze : — all these attractions I forbear to 
describe, notwithstanding Hannah More's pretty lines, 
in her somewhat over-estimated jeu d' esprit of "Bas 
Bleu: 7 ' 



336 ISLE OF SHOALS. 

" The joy of seeing is to tell — 
And curiosity would sleep, 
If her own secrets she must keep : 
The bliss of telling what is past, 
Becomes her rich reward at last." 

The next day I passed through the Sound at the back 
of Long Island to Providence, and thence to Boston, a 
distance of 250 miles. Unwilling to disturb any friend 
at a late hour, I proceeded with several gentlemen to the 
first hotel in the city, where we failed, however, to obtain 
accommodations, as they had already, during the day, 
refused 150 persons. This was indication enough of the 
travelling spirit of America. What a busy ant-hill must 
this country appear to any one supposed to be raised to a 
sufficient altitude, and endowed with adequate powers of 
vision to comprehend the whole at a glance ! 

The following morning I hastened by the steam-packet 
to Portsmouth, and then proceeded to Dover. We 
touched at the Isle of Shoals — rocky and awful for ship- 
wrecks ! A large party of free-will baptists, who had 
been holding a protracted meeting in this wild and 
desolate ocean solitude, came on board. I was gratified 
to see once more Mr. and Mrs. Noyes, and several minis- 
ters whom I had met in Hampshire. Mrs. Noyes had 
been a diligent labourer for many months , amongst the 
thin population of this region, which seemed a miniature 
exhibition of the Scilly Isles, off the coast of Cornwall. 
On Saturday, I travelled by coach to Portland, through 
Berwick, Kennebunk, and across the river Saco. A 
considerable discussion on the sanctification of the sab- 
bath arose with a professor of religion, a fellow-traveller, 
who proposed to take the steam-packet the next moili- 
ng. While he maintained that it was lawful to do so, 



PORTLAND. 337 

on account of his long absence from home, and the in- 
convenient detention of two days, I was sustained in 
maintaining the contrary, by another gentleman, whom 
I found to be a member of one of the presbyterian 
churches in Portland. It is to be feared that, in very 
many instances, the enterprise of the country, acting 
upon a vast scale of distance, and stimulated by the 
gainful practice of purchasing immense tracts of un- 
cleared forest land, interferes with the spirituality of 
religion ; the maintenance of which requires peculiar 
vigilance in the hard-contested race of commercial 
emulation. 

The Sabbath, August 2d, was one of " refreshment 
from the presence of the Lord." I preached to the 
baptist congregation under the care of the Rev. J. S. 
Maginnis, in the morning and evening. After a ser- 
mon in the intermediate time, by the Rev. B. Stow, of 
Boston, the Lord's supper was administered. With pious 
and fraternal courtesy, Mr. Maginnis insisted on devolv- 
ing the presidency for the occasion on the aged and 
venerable pastor of the church at Newton, Mr. Grafton,* 

* This excellent and aged servant of Christ has just resigned 
his office. He has been pastor of the baptist church in New- 
ton for forty eight years,and has been greatly blessed in his 
labours as a minister. Five of the churches, in the neighbour- 
hood of Boston, originated from the baptist church in Newton, 
namely, the churches in Cambridgeport, Roxbury, Brookline,. 
Watertown, and Newton Upper Falls. Mr. Grafton enjoys a 
remarkably green old age. His step is still elastic, and his in- 
tellectual faculties are retained in their almost undiminished 
vigour ; still the withering hand of time has been laid upon 
him, and he feels sensibly the infirmities of declining years 
Within a few months he has been deeply affected by the death 
29* 



338 PORTLAND. 

and myself. Several of our ministerial brethren were 
present, on their way to Waterville ; and it proved to be 
a a soul-reviving feast." Thought, more swift than 
lightning, traversed the mighty Atlantic, and combined 
the sacramental festival of Hackney and Portland, at the 
geographical distance of more than 3000 miles, uniting, 
in its enraptured association, the thousands of Israel in 
England and America, and even to "earth's remotest 
bound." It pictured forth the period when animosity 
and prejudice shall be removed by the religion of Jesus, 
whose power was now overwhelmingly realized at the 
table of the Redeemer : and when the free, enslaved no 
more by their own passions, and the bond unbound from 
their chains — when men of every age, of every rank, of 
every colour, shall be emphatically " one in Christ;" 
nay, more, imagination scaled the heavens, and united 
the recipients below in fellowship with the spirits above. 
" O nodes, ccenasque deum ! " might a sanctified 
heathen have exclaimed, with a new application of the 
words of Horace ; or rather — for " there shall be no 
night there ! " — in the impassioned language of Cicero, 
" O pr cedar um diem cum ad illud divinum animo- 
rum concilium cmtumque proficiscar, cumque ex hac 
turba et colluvione discedam!" No wonder, that 
amidst the obscurities of his age, and the imperfections 
of his philosophy, which threw the chilling shade of 
apprehension over the brightest prospects of his spirit, 
struggling to be free, and reaching after immortality, 
a man of his stamp in a fervour of emotion should after- 

of his wife, and his only surviving daughter, who for several 
years resided in his family. Believing, as he did, that his la- 
bours could no longer be valuable to his people, he has given in 
his resignation. 



TOPSHAM. 339 

wards add, " If I err, in believing the minds of such 
men (as he had named) to be immortal, I willingly 
err ; nor do I wish, while I live, this delightful error to 
be wrested from me." Thus did the noble orator all but 
"lay hold on eternal life ;" and had one beam of revela- 
tion illuminated him, how would he have been prepared, 
with the certainty of hope, to have joined in strains like 
those of our modern poet — 

" happy, happy company, 
When men and heavenly spirits greet, 
And those whom death hath severed meet, 
And hold again communion sweet ; 
O happy, happy company !" 

The church of Mr. Maginnis is connected with the 
Cumberland Association, comprehending about fifteen 
churches ; which form a branch of the Maine Conven- 
tion. It numbers about 270 members, and is in a 
thriving state. The place of worship is perhaps capable 
of containing 1000 persons, and is well adapted, like most 
in America, for comfortable accommodation. 

On Monday, I proceeded on my journey through 
North Yarmouth on Casco Bay, where there is a church 
of 170 or 180 members ; through Freeport, which con- 
tains a church of nearly 120 members ; through Bruns- 
wick, which has a church of 100 members ; and finally, 
across the Androscoggin to Topsham. The church in this 
place now meet in a commodious edifice, which was open- 
ed for worship in May. So lately as 1832, the people were 
few in number, destitute of a pastor, and oppressed by 
witnessing the desolations of Zion. Preaching was 
comparatively infrequent; but they constantly assem- 
bled for united prayer. Two happy results followed from 



340 MERRY-MEETING BAY. 

this course. Union was increased and perpetuated, and 
greater efforts were excited to obtain a pastor, by behold- 
ing, from sabbath to sabbath, the pulpit vacant, and by 
hearing no voice of consolation addressed to the poor in 
spirit, and no notes of warning to the impenitent. In the 
summer of 1833, a Sabbath-school was opened for the 
first time in connexion with the baptist society. This 
school was stamped with a signal blessing. A young 
lady, who engaged as a teacher, had, for some years, 
indulged a hope hi Christ, but had never made a public 
profession of her faith in him. By means of her connex- 
ion with the school, her love to the Saviour was enkindled 
anew, and a corresponding desire to unite with the 
church. She was the earnest of the happy and exten- 
sive revival of religion which followed, which embraced 
within its influence eight or ten connected with the school 
and bible class. From these facts, we learn that there 
were two important antecedents to the present flourishing 
state of the church, which, if not the cause, w ere closely 
connected with it ; viz. assembling each Sabbath-day 
for prayer when destitute of preaching, and the establish- 
ment of a Sabbath-school. The church in Topsham 
belongs to the Bowdoinham Association of twenty-six 
churches. 

We travelled near the coast, and were delighted with 
the scenery, which was richly diversified by islands, 
thirty in number, lying along the shores, some of them 
in the highest state of cultivation. We passed near 
Merry-meeting Bay, a name derived from the large an- 
nual assemblies of the Indians in former times. They 
came to this spot from almost incredible distances, that 
the principal chief might appoint the hunting grounds 
of the different tribes for the ensuing season. The name 



AUGUSTA. 341 

is indicative of the kind meeting held, which lasted for' 
at least a fortnight. There is something so entertaining 
to the fancy, in the idea of the sons of the forest associating 
in their native character and simplicity, to indulge the 
hilarity and freedom of intercourse accordant with the 
great annual festivity of savage life, that we are tempted 
for a moment to overlook its inevitable evils, and a cer- 
tain impression of melancholy seemed to shade the beau- 
tiful and brillant scenery, from whose haunts progressive 
civilization, a calculating policy, or an oppressive power 
had driven these free-born children of nature. At one 
moment as we travelled on, imagination peopled these 
shores, view T ed complacently their mirth and their native 
glory, beheld their dance, and listened to their song, and 
thus recalled departed ages and a vanished race; the 
next, however, presented the affecting reality of their 
total disappearance, and the everlasting termination of 
their revelries and their dominion. Yet, however la- 
mentable were the first means adopted for effecting the 
change, what benevolent and pious mind can do 
otherwise than hail the progress of improvement, the 
growth of knowledge, and the triumph of religion? 
The tomahawk has been superseded by the implement 
of husbandry, and the war-whoop by the "church- 
going bell." 

Hallowell appeared to be a flourishing village. It is 
situated on the river Kennebec, at the head of tide water, 
and contains about 3000 inhabitants, a bank, an aca- 
demy, and three churches. Three miles further on the 
same beautiful little river is Augusta, which, though not 
a city, is the seat of government. Its general construc- 
tion displays taste and elegance. In the evening I met 
some christian friends at the Rev. Mr. Tappan's, the 



342 WATERVILLE. 

presbyterian minister, at whose magnificent church I 
afterwards preached. My lodging for the night was at 
the house of the baptist minister, whose congregation has 
been recently formed, and is in a prosperous condition. 
At a baptism in March, a member of the legislature was 
immersed. A new place of worship, of considerable 
size, has been erected, which at the time of my visit was 
on the eve of being opened. 

On arriving at Water ville the next day, I was imme- 
diately welcomed into the agreeable abode of Dr. Bab- 
cock, president of the college, where every one was en- 
gaged in busy preparations for the commencement. The 
whole district through which I had travelled from Augusta 
was mountainous, but cultivated, and the Kennebec me- 
andered gracefully along the valle} r . Waterville is a place 
of growing importance. At the Teconick Falls in the 
town, which are at the head of the boat navigation 
there are several manufactories, which have themselves 
originated a considerable village. The pleasing and 
retired aspect of the whole locality, and its position with 
regard to the state of Maine in general, adapts it to a 
great public institution for learning ; and I was gratified 
to find the sympathies of every class of the community 
enlisted in this object. They have not waited for a 
long revolution of time, the clearance of the country, 
and the progress of refinement, before attempting a lite- 
rary establishment ; but have, with the zeal of Ameri- 
cans, and the discernment of legislators, patriots, and 
philosophers, commenced at once the refining process — ■ 
the moral melioration of this noble state, in the provi- 
sion of a storehouse of knowledge for her rising sons. 
With a wise policy on their part, too, they have con- 
joined in the trusteeship of their foundation, gentlemen 



WATERVILLE. 343 

from distant parts, some of whom, though devoted to 
other institutions, have given, not their names only, but 
their active co-operation here. 

Waterville college was founded in 1818, and is under 
the direction of the baptist denomination. The follow- 
ing gentlemen constitute the faculty of instruction : — 
Rev. Rufus Babcock, Jr., D. D., president and acting 
professor of moral philosophy and oratory ; George W. 
Keely, A. M., professor of mathematics and natural 
philosophy ; Rev. Calvin Newton, A. M., professor of rhe- 
toric and the Hebrew language ; Ezekiel Holmes. M. D., 
lecturer on chemistry, mineralogy, geology, and botany ; 
Phinehas Barnes, A. M., professor of the Greek and 
Latin languages and literature ; Rev. Samuel F. Smith, 
A. M., acting professor of modern languages ; J. Eve- 
rett Farnam, A. B., tutor in mathematics, and libra- 
rian ; Samuel Randall, Jr., A. B., tutor in Greek and 
Latin. 

The college year is divided into two terms. The 
first vacation is five weeks from the commencement ; 
the second eight weeks from the second Wednesday in 
December. At the close of the term there is a public 
examination of the several classes, when the students 
are subjected to the closest scrutiny. There is, besides, 
an academy near the college, under the direction of a 
committee appointed by its trustees, and conducted by 
•gentlemen of literary and scientific attainments. The 
incorporation of the manual system of labour into the 
plan, has been deemed here peculiarly advantageous. 
There are extensive workshops on the college premises, 
in which the students usually labour three hours a day. 
Dr. Babcock's statement on the subject is, that " con- 
siderably more than one-half of the whole number of 



344 WATEHVILLE. 

students in college are regularly engaged in labour 
(chiefly in the college shops) three hours a day. Their 
earnings vary from 50cts. to $2 50ts. per week, accord- 
ing to their skill, strength and diligence ; but, on an 
average, they pay for their board by their labour. This 
system of labour has been in successful operation for 
more than two years (with the exception of a few weeks 
last autumn, when the scarcity of lumber partially sus- 
pended work in the shops) and the results of it are no 
longer doubtful. The regular exercise thus furnished 
is found highly conducive to health, and to intellectual 
vigour. No student is hindered in the successful prose- 
cution of his studies, by employing three hours a day in 
work. The good order of the college is also essentially 
promoted by this kind of employment of the leisure hours 
of so large a portion of the students. 

"It is often asked, 'How can your manual labour 
department continue to flourish, when the experiment 
in so many other institutions has entirely failed ? ' Seve- 
ral circumstances have conspired to its success here. A 
large proportion of our students are able-bodied men, 
who have been accustomed to labour, and do not regard 
it as dishonourable. We have an excellent and popular 
superintendent of the shops, at a reasonable charge. 
The shops, tools, &c., have been furnished by contribu- 
tions for the purpose, and only need to be kept in repair, 
by a small tax on the occupants. We have also un-' 
usual facilities for purchasing lumber, and disposing of 
work of various kinds from the shops. By carrying the 
principles of the division of labour into effect, the seve- 
ral processes are so simplified, that young men, of com- 
mon ingenuity, even if they have never before been 
accustomed to the use of tools, very soon learn to work 



WATERVILLE. 345 

to good advantage. The low price of board and tuition 
(only $1 a week for the former, when paid in advance, 
and $20 per annum for the latter) are an encouragement 
to many worthy young men, thirsting for the advan- 
tages of education, to endeavour to procure one here, 
chiefly by their own efforts." 

The general course of study assimilates with that of 
other considerable institutions. Generally fifty or sixty 
students are preparing for the christian ministry. 

There are weekly exercises in declamation and com- 
position. All the students are required to read from the 
Greek Testament into English, without note or com- 
ment, in connexion with morning prayers' in the chapel. 
The portions thus read are critically examined in a bible 
class, under the direction of the president, on Sunday 
evening. In this manner the principal parts of the 
New Testament, in its original language, pass under 
critical review every year. 

Courses of lectures are delivered to the several classes 
on the following subjects: — the various branches of 
natural philosophy, chemistry, mineralogy, geology, 
and botany, rhetoric^ Greek and Latin literature, Ger- 
man and French literature, the Hebrew language, mo* 
ral philosophy, political economy. 

The requisites for admission to the freshman class, are 
testimonials of good moral character, a thorough acquaint- 
ance with English, Latin, and Greek grammar, Caesar's 
Commentaries or Sallust, Virgil, Cicero's Select Orations, 
Latin prosody, Latin composition, the gospels of the Greek 
Testament, Jacob's Greek Reader, ancient and modern 
geography, vulgar and decimal fractions, proportion, the 
doctrine of roots and powers,, algebra, so far as to enable 
the student to solve equations of the second degree, or 
30 



346 



WATERVILLE. 



such acquisitions as the faculty shall judge equivalent* 
It is also recommended to students in preparation, to 
read attentively some convenient manual of Greek and 
Roman history. 

On the day previous to the commencement, two gen- 
tlemen from a distance were selected as usual to deliver 
orations before particular societies formed amongst the 
college students, such as the Peace Society, and the 
Literary Society. On these occasions, the members 
and friends proceeded in solemn procession, with hired 
bands of music, to the baptist church. 

The season of commencement was auspicious. After 
the necessary preparations at the college, at ten o'clock 
a procession, with similar accompaniments of music, and 
consisting of graduates, students, the faculty and presi- 
dent, members of the state government, and other gentle- 
men, marched about a quarter of a mile to the baptist 
chapel or church, which was thronged to suffocation. To 
me was assigned the honourable post of walking side by 
side with the president, and receiving with other gentle- 
men the salutations as we passed uncovered through a 
double row of the literary assemblage. Hours of much 
interest glided away while we listened to the various 
exercises of the candidates for degrees, and witnessed 
their reception of university honours. At the close it 
devolved on me to deliver an oration " on the study of 
literature," which was most courteously received. 

It would be doing no more than justice to speak in 
terms of commendation both of the instructions of the 
tutors, and the progress of many of the students in this 
young but thriving seminary of learning. The pro- 
gress of the past affords a pleasing prognostic of the 
probable success and distinction of the future. That a 



WATERVILLE. 347 

recent establishment should not at present be able to 
compete with the older schools of Europe, is no real dis- 
paragement ; but there is an emulous spirit at work 
both here and elsewhere throughout the Union, that 
will in time render it needful for the rest of the world to 
hasten forward with more assiduity in the career of im- 
provement, or withdraw the language of reproach and 
and self-adulation. In the moral revolution of the globe, 
it seems to be the settled conviction of competent judges,, 
that America is turning to the light, and may even yet, 
and at no distant age, outshine her competitors. If the 
fixed and unrivalled splendour of illustrious men in all 
the departments of art and science and literature, in- 
vests the universities of Europe with a halo of glory, 
our transatlantic brethren claim, and justly claim, a 
fair participation at least in the great names of our hon- 
oured country, and point to some literary stars on their 
own horizon, which already indicate the approaching 
constellations of future time. Their present tendency 
throughout the states is rather to the solid in acquirement, 
than the showy. They are wisely laying a substantial 
foundation, and mean to raise the superstructure before 
they adorn it. This they are doing almost everywhere, 
even in their female seminaries, to an extraordinary and 
unrivalled degree in pure mathematics. In the mental 
strife they seem as determined as once in their political 
struggle. Happily here it is a rivalship, not a resistance. 
We ought to cherish, and not frown upon their youth- 
ful vigour. They are our sons after all ; and even if 
they surpass, they will throw reflected lustre on their 
venerable sire. Let Britain discourage the poisonous 
infusions of prejudice that discolour and debase our 



348 WATERVILLE. 

periodical literature, and learn for the second time that 
hatred is feebleness, and union is strength ! 

To me it appears, not only from observations made 
at Waterville, but at every other commencement, and 
every other institution, collegiate ar academical, which I 
had opportunities (and they were not unfrequent) of 
attending during my visit in America, that the art of 
oratory is greatly neglected, or perhaps I should say, 
misunderstood, Amidst some few admirable exceptions, 
manner and gesture were neglected. On the platform, 
in the college, and in the pulpit, there was an evident 
defect in the graces of delivery. The art of concealing 
art is not understood. There is little or no ease in 
speaking, but an awkwardness detrimental to effect. 
Well-constructed addresses, often forcibly and sometimes 
beautifully written, were not, if I may use such an ex- 
pression, icell set. Tones and attitudes were seldom 
good. The hands had either nothing to do, or knew 
not how to do it ; and the voice had no chance of being 
regulated by a just and appropriate modulation. The 
art of reading well, too, is as much disregarded there as 
in England; an art which is worthy of cultivation, es- 
pecially in connexion with the exercises of religion. 
Throughout the northern states the English language 
is indeed better spoken by the multitude than at home, 
for there is a freedom from some of our barbarous pro- 
vincialisms ; but the Attic dialect of the best circles of 
our metropolis, and the best speakers throughout our 
land, is not yet attained. I wish I could persuade 
Englishmen to imitate the good sense of Americans, 
and Americans to appreciate the good taste of English* 
mem 



BANGOR. 349 

Instead of returning immediately from Waterville, 
I was persuaded to prolong my journey to Bangor. 
This enabled me to see an extensive country, partly 
cleared, but in general finely covered with its original 
forests. Bangor, at the head of the navigation of the 
Penobscot, is every hour growing into greatness. In 
1830 it contained 2500 inhabitants; at present there are 
nearly 10,000. In visiting different parts of the town 
and neighbourhood, I was struck with the general bustle 
and almost visible progress of every undertaking ; all 
was motion. Here stones were cutting — there houses 
erecting — yonder, the rude outline of a new street form- 
ing by six oxen chained together, and engaged in 
ploughing up the ground which was hereafter to be 
levelled and arranged. It seemed, in fact, the very 
metropolis of enterprise ; and every one was urged for- 
ward — merchant, mechanic, lawyer, and orator, by the 
impelling persuasion that Bangor was to be the leading 
town of a mighty state ; to whose advancing greatness 
every one seemed to feel that he was no inconsiderable 
contributer. I was politely received by Professor Pond 
at the Presbyterian Theological Institution, which is 
erected on the side of a lofty hill, overlooking the town, 
and commanding an extensive prospect. I preached 
on the evening of my arrival at the baptist church to a 
numerous audience. This congregation is thriving 
under the pastoral superintendence of Mr. Curtis, wha 
was amongst the very earliest promoters, if not the 
original deviser of the "Lumber Mission f but in this 
effort the baptist church was immediately and zealously 
supported by the congregational merchants. Lumber 
is the name for timber cut up in any way, and forms 
the staple article of export from the mouth of the Penob- 
30* 



350 LUMBER MISSION. 

scot ; and all the chief rivers of the state. To procure 
it, a hardy race of men is sent into the woods of the in- 
terior, at the close of the year ; where they construct 
camps of various descriptions, made of logs notched 
into each other, and planted where the trees are thickest. 
In these they domesticate themselves for three or four 
months, sallying forth as the weather w^ill permit to hew 
down the tall sons of the surrounding forest. These are de- 
posited as conveniently as possible for taking advantage of 
the floods or "freshets" of the ensuing spring, which float 
them into the streams and rivers, on which saw-mills 
are constructed. Finding from 3000 to 4000 of these 
c - lumber-men" were thus annually secluded from all 
other society throughout the period of their encampment, 
and of course from all the public means of divine grace, 
the friends of this mission proposed supplying them with 
such a portion of their means as it might be practicable 
to afford. It was thought that their seclusion from 
ordinary society would operate favourably in inducing a 
disposition to attend to a missionary ; and this expecta- 
tion has been realized during the season in which it has 
been tried. A brother, originally a convert of the gos- 
pel among these woody solitudes, had been ordained to 
the general work of the ministry a fortnight before the 
scheme of systematic exertion was ripe. He was en- 
gaged to devote two months to the service as an experi- 
ment, and it every where succeeded. In his journal this 
missionary speaks of " small but attentive audiences " 
throughout his course. They averaged thirty to 
thirty-five individuls, but often amounted to fifty, and 
sometimes to seventy. Though a rough race, he found 
them not only respectful, but hospitable ; and so gen- 
erally willing to attend to his object, that he preached 



INDIAN SETTLEMENT. 351 

every night but three, during the seven weeks of his 
itineracy. They would in no instance receive payment 
for the accommodation he found amongst them. Oc- 
casionally he was hailed by a religious lumber-man as 
bringing cold water to thirsty souls ; and several times 
the little audience furnished a praying brother, and one 
who, according to the custom of various churches there, 
could exhort their companions after sermon. These 
men are dispersed, on the opening of the spring, like 
the trees they fell, in all directions, southward. 

It is not improbable that another baptist church will 
speedily be formed in Bangor by a friendly separation 
from the primary society. Already there are two con- 
gregationalist churches, one methodist, and one unita- 
rian. The American spirit is here peculiarly manifest 
at all public meetings, civil or religious. As soon as a 
project is announced, which wears the aspect of utility, 
the question is — " Well, what action shall be taken upon 
this ? " The requisite amount is determined, dollars in- 
stantly pour in, and the work is accomplished! 

At the distance of twelve miles up the Penobscot, is an 
island which has been appropriated by government to 
the Indians. Their settlement is called Old Town. It 
is inhabited by 300 Indians. A Miss Newell nobly un- 
dertook their instruction ; but this self-denying effort was 
attempted to be frustrated by the catholics, who contrived 
to expel her from the settlement, of which they, as in 
most other instances, resolved to maintain entire posses- 
sion. She, however, crossed the narrow branch of the 
river, and by fixing herself on the opposite shore, con- 
tinued to labour at the nearest accessible point. Many 
still avail themselves of her persevering assiduity. It is 
singular that the different denominations have been sa 



352 MAINE. 

neglectful of the Indians, the fragments of whose broken 
tribes still linger, like the fading twilight, upon their 
ancient domains. 

The corporation mills, or as they are now called, the 
city mills, are situated three miles and a half up the 
same river. These are worked by steam engines, and 
are the most extensive saw-mills in the United States* 
They are valuable inventions. On account of the 
rapids, the people, nothing daunted, are about to con- 
struct a sluice of 900 feet in length, to run the rafts 
down. The Kinduskeay river falls into the Penobscot 
at Bangor, and contributes its quota of suitable banks 
for the construction of wharves. 

I returned by the river, and along the enchanting 
coast of Maine to Portland ; thence to Portsmouth, after 
another day's agreeable ride, though " some warm. 5 ' At 
Portsmouth I preached twice to the calvinistic baptist 
congregation, which was at the time, destitute of a pas- 
tor. The place of worship contains 600 or 700 people. 
In general, however, it is not filled, and seems to need 
re-animation. There is also a free-will baptist church, 
and some others of the presbytesian or congregational 
order. The town is situated on the Piscataqua river. 
It has a fine harbour, open at all seasons, and is the only 
seaport of New Hampshire. I hastened thence to 
Dover, and on a subsequent day, through the magnifi- 
cent mountainous district of Gilmanton to New 
Hampton. 

My tour into Maine w^as attended with many plea- 
sures and some labour ; but I could truly say of this, and 
all similar engagements in the same great cause " labor 
ipse voluntas? Of the country, and of its religious 
aspect, it may be desirable to subjoin a few words., 



MAINE. 353 

Maine comprehends 32,000 square miles, and about 
400,000 inhabitants, or twelve to a square mile. The 
northern parts are nearly unpeopled. Geologically 
speaking, it possesses the chief characteristics of a primi- 
tive country, that is, rugged coasts indented with har- 
bours, a broken and hilly surface, a hard and granite 
soil of difficult cultivation ; with lakes and rivers, ill 
adapted from obstructing rapids or shallows, for the pur- 
poses of navigation. Agriculture is but little advanced, 
the greatest part of the country being covered with native 
forests. These, and grazing farms, furnish the chief 
exports. It has been the fourth state of the Union for 
shipping, as its extensive coasts and harbours are 
favourable to commerce. The climate is cold, but salu- 
brious. 

A sketch of the history of the baptist denomination 
in this part of the country shall close this narrative. 

The Maine Baptist Convention is composed of nine 
associations, which comprehended about 240 churches ; 
of these, 150 are destitute of pastors. The whole com- 
prehend between 16,000 and 17,000 members. They 
have been accustomed to engage in missionary societies, 
to assist by a branch institution the Northern Baptist 
Education Society, and in 1834 formed a Sunday-school 
union. The secretary and agent of the convention is 
employed in visiting the churches, not only to procure 
donations for general objects from the more wealthy, but 
to obtain information of their state, to preach for those 
which are destitute, and use efforts, or devise expedients 
for the revival of religion. Two or three brief extracts 
from one of their recent reports, will convey some idea 
of the activity that prevails in some districts, and the 
circumstances of their domestic missions. 



354 



MAINE. 



" Eastern Maine. — Our venerable father Case, 
whose labours have been so unceasing, long protracted 
and useful, spent five weeks in this association, with the 
people of No. 8, Branch Pond, Trenton, and vicinity. 
His return was highly gratifying. It seems the Lord 
blessed him, and made him a blessing to the people- 
He mentions one interesting fact. Speaking of being 
in Branch Pond settlement, he says, ' Here 1 found an 
infant baptist church, which was constituted the 8th of 
December last, chiefly the fruits of a late revival in this 
place. Here I visited several families and attended 
several meetings, preached two sermons on Lord's day, 
and then rode six miles towards Ellsworth village, and 
preached again in the evening. This late revival in 
religion has extended about six miles on this road, and 
every family in that distance has shared in the good 
work save one .' Br. E. Bedel has been a missionary 
for the year, in this association, mostly however, on the 
islands. The Lord has blessed his labours. He has 
baptized thirty. Br. D. Dodge has also spent four 
weeks. 

" Penobscot. — Br. Roundy has been employed every 
fourth Sabbath in Bradford. To the little church in 
this place, the committee of this association appropriated 
fifteen dollars, which enabled them to secure preaching 
one- fourth of the time. Br. Roundy says, 'When I 
commenced my labours here, which was in December 
last, the church was rather low, but since that time the 
Lord has appeared for their help. I have baptized nine, 
and broke bread to the church. They seem much en- 
couraged.' Br. Hale has spent three Sabbaths, one in 
St. Albans, and two in Garland. He baptized one. Br. 
J. Hatch has spent eight weeks in the service of the 



Maine. 355 

convention in Exeter, Stetson, Etna, and Plymouth. 
He has enjoyed some precious seasons, and baptized 
fourteen. The people paid fifteen dollars, and he last 
fall subscribed to the convention ten dollars, so that the 
expense of Br. Hatch's mission was small. Br. J. F. 
Page received an appointment of seven weeks in the 
north-eastwardly part of this association, which ap- 
pointment he has filled. He mentioned one circum- 
stance worthy of notice, viz.— In La Grange, he found 
seven members of the church in Bradford, who fre- 
quently attended the conference of the church, by going 
twelve miles through the woods on foot, having to cross 
Dead Stream on rafts. While on his mission^ he was 
instrumental of the conversion of several, and baptized 
one. In one place> where the population is fast increas- 
ing, his spirit was stirred within him, on viewing the 
situation of the people, for whose souls no man seemed 
to care. Br. Z. Hall spent five weeks in visiting the 
little churches east of the Penobscot rtver. In one place, 
he says, c the people flocked together from all quarters ; 
men, women, and children, came a number of miles 
through the woods by night, with lanterns and torches^ 
to hear the word ; and it was easy preaching ; I never 
saw greater signs of a general reformation in any place.' 
He would have protracted his labours, had not sickness 
and death in his family called him home. Br. S. Dexter 
received an appointment of twelve weeks in Stetson, 
Dutton, Kirkland, and Bradford. In one of these places^ 
he proposed to the people to hold a protracted meeting, 
which was attended with a blessing. A revival com- 
menced in the meeting, which has brought more than 
twenty into the church of Newport, and has raised up a 
small church in Stetson. He says, ' I laboured most of 



356 MAINE. 

the time under very feeble health, but never in my life 
did I labour (as I thought) where God approved, and 
his cause required, more than in this short mission.' " 

Previously to the year 1804, the Bowdoinham Asso- 
ciation was the only one which existed in this state. 
At its annual session in 1804, this association deemed it 
expedient to divide. Accordingly, the churches east of 
the Kennebec river, and one at least west of it were dis- 
missed. In 1805, these churches, together with others 
recently organized, were formed into the Lincoln Asso- 
ciation, which, at its annual session in 1S0G, numbered 
but twenty-one churches, and 1151 members. But not- 
withstanding every obstacle, increased rapidity. In 
1805, the first baptist church in Sedgwick — a church of 
128 members, which, with its excellent pastor, the late 
Rev. Daniel Merrill, had recently renounced the paedo- 
baptist principles, united with this body at its organiza- 
tion. In ISIS, this association had so increased, that it 
numbered sixty-one churches. Thus it appears that 
within the short term of twelve years, the baptist 
churches east of Kennebec river, increased from twenty 
to sixty-one ; and several small churches were gathered 
in this section, which did not then unite with the associ- 
ation. During the same period, the communicants 
increased from 1151, to considerably more than 3500. 

This association at its annual session in 1818, having 
become extensive, thought proper to divide ; and by 
mutual agreement, the churches east of the Penobscot 
river were dismissed to form an independent body by 
themselves. Since that time, the Lincoln Association 
has been twice divided, and the two associations, Penob- 
scot and Waldo, have been branched from it. The 
latter at its last session numbered nineteen churches, and 



MAINE. 357 

1087 communicants. The former at its last session , 
numbered thirty-five churches, 1908 communicants. 
Whilst the parent body (Lincoln) still numbered twenty- 
eight churches, and 2460 communicants. 

The churches east of the Penobscot river, met by a 
delegation in Bluehill, on the 12th of November, 18 18, 
and organized themselves into a body, to be called the 
Eastern Maine Association, which at its first annual 
session in October, 1819, embraced fifteen churches, and 
1042 communicants. To this body, the Lord has been 
signally gracious. It was not only small in its begin- 
ning, but came into existence under many disadvan- 
tages. The churches already gathered have, however, 
"been much enlarged, several of them have divided, and 
others formed, so that at its annual session, last Septem- 
ber, the Eastern Maine Association embraced thirty-eight 
churches, and 3209 communicants. At this meeting, 
it was deemed expedient to divide, which was accord- 
ingly done by a unanimous vote. The original desig- 
nation was dropped, and the two associations assumed 
the names of the respective counties in which they were 
located— ^Hancock and Washington. Of the thirty-eight 
churches, twenty-two are in Hancock, and sixteen in 
Washington ; in the latter, most of the churches are 
destitute of pastors, there being at this time but six 
ordained ministers. The churches in the Hancock Asso- 
ciation are better supplied, there being twelve ordained 
ministers connected with it ; besides these, there are 
eight candidates for the ministry, some of whom are 
licensed, and engaged in preaching most of their time ; 
others are in a course of preparatory study. Still, many 
of the churches are destitute of pastors, and some of them 
have preaching but seldom. 

31 



358 MAINE. 

In traversing the country from Waterville to Bangor, 
I perceived a considerable destitution of religious means; 
and my inquiries respecting other parts, notwithstanding 
the pleasing citations just introduced, lead to the conclu- 
sion, that this remark is but too capable of an extensive 
application. Opportunities, however, for the diffusion 
of the gospel, are numerous, were there but a sufficient 
multiplication of ministers. Still, in some of the princi- 
pal places, Christianity is taking a deep root, and obtain- 
ing a spreading influence ; and it is to be devoutly anti- 
cipated, that this will.be increasingly realized, as forests 
fall and cities rise. 



359 



CHAPTER XI, 

INSTITUTION AT NEW HAMPTON. — ANDOVER. SA- 
LEM. — NEWTON THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION. MR. 

COBB. MEETING AT FANEUIL HALL. AMERICAN 

INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION. — NEWBURYPORT. 

WHITEFIELD'S TOMB. CHURCHES AT BOSTON. 

The village of New Hampton is romantically situat- 
ed near the centre of New Hampshire, in an agricultural 
district, and encircled by an amphitheatre of lofty hills. 
The wildness of the scenery is rather increased than di- 
minished by the progress of cultivation, owing to the 
remnants of trees that have been felled ; so that if the 
axe no longer rings in the woods, there remains ample 
work for the machinery invented for extracting the 
stumps of the forest. From a lofty hill, called the Pin- 
nacle, at the foot of which the little town reposes, the eye 
commands an extensive panorama, looking in one di- 
rection over the Lake Winnipiseogee far into Maine ; in 
another, to the aspiring summits of the White Moun- 
tains; and, in a third, across Vermont, to the state of 
New York, where the horizon fades away in the dis- 
tance. It is said that, in some directions, the diameter 
of the circle is more than 100 miles. 

At the foot of this commanding eminence, stood one 
small building, used for an academy, which was offered 
to the Baptist State Convention in 1825. The conven- 
tion itself was at that time but recently formed ; they, 



360 NEW HAMPTON. 

however, accepted the trust, and after struggling with 
many difficulties, and encountering no small degree of 
religious prejudice and opposition, their application to the 
legislature for a charter was successful, additional build- 
ings were erected, and the enterprise gave every promise 
of success. In the course of two or three years it was 
deemed expedient to establish a female department, and 
a neat, commodious building was erected on the rising 
ground, where a good congregational meeting-house al- 
ready stood. Each has a spire, and together they pre- 
sent a very picturesque appearance. In a short time, it 
was found necessary for the accommodation of the in- 
creasing number of youths at the school, and students in 
the theological department, to rear a spacious and substan- 
tial college, 100 feet long, by 36 wide, in addition to a 
hall, which had previously been built. The distance 
between the two seminaries is about a mile and a half, 
but the whole institution is under the presidency of Pro- 
fessor Smith, who is the theological tutor. 

The anniversary of this seminary excites much in- 
terest among the baptists in the state ; and we had been 
repeatedly requested to attend its celebration. The in- 
stitution has been much patronised by the city of Bos- 
ton, chiefly on account of the female department. Miss 
Hazeltine, the lady who presides over it, is not only a 
native of Boston, but under the pastoral and paternal 
eye of Dr. Sharp, she has risen to merited distinction. 
The powers of her mind, her attainments, and a happy 
facility in teaching, early marked her out, as likely to 
excel in this arduous and responsible station. Two or 
three able associates take their respective departments, in 
most efficient and harmonious co-operation with the lady 
president. Many young ladies from Boston have re- 



NEW HAMPTON. 361 

ceived their education there ; and its advancing celebrity 
has led to the intention of erecting a new and more spa- 
cious edifice. 

There are four classes of male students, who may 
either board themselves, at the houses kept for that pur- 
pose, or live as in other colleges, in commons. Some of 
these are youths of a tender age, and some are men of 
mature years, who, though they have already occupied 
various situations, have ascertained the need of enlarg- 
ing their general knowledge. Besides these, the institu- 
tion furnishes a liberal education, both classical and lite- 
ral, so as amply to prepare young men for college ; and 
it is further, a theological seminary of candidates for the 
ministry. There are about 230 or 240 students. 

After a cordial welcome to the institution, we repaired 
to the dwelling of the Hon. H. Y. Simpson. Mr. Simp- 
son is a judge, and possesses much local influence, which 
renders his devoted patronage of the institution highly 
advantageous. He was the president at the anniver- 
sary. We not only enjoyed the hospitality of his house, 
and the use of his carriage to convey us to the different 
meetings, but were also accommodated politely with that 
conveyance to Concord, a distance of thirty miles, to en- 
able us to remain to the close of the public exercises, 
The father of the judge is still living. Old age has 
darkened his corporeal, and dimmed his intellectual 
vision, but he is the wreck of a noble specimen of our 
nature. He was a colonel in the war of Independence, 
and bears in his person honourable scars, besides a buk 
let or two which could not be extracted, and which he 
will carry with him to the grave. It was easy to. kindle 
the latent fires of his mind, by allusions to scenes with 
which he had been familiar in his youth. He has an 

31* 



362 NEW HAMPTON. 

indomitable love of liberty mingled with the finest feel- 
ings of a generous and benevolent heart. He loves and 
venerates England, but thinks that the interests of the 
whole world required the independence and free institu- 
tions of his country. 

The examinations commenced in the male depart- 
ment, and were conducted by President Smith, and Pro- 
fessors Morse, White, and Sherman ; any visitors being 
invited to put questions as they proceeded. A commit- 
tee of seven was appointed to report. Youths of from 
eight to fourteen or fifteen seemed to compose the school 
of the English department, and, in their examination, 
particularly in arithmetic and book-keeping, displayed 
the ordinary measure of proficiency which a diligent tu- 
tor will generally secure. A curious circumstance oc- 
curred, illustrative of the prevalence of the republican 
spirit, and showing how the passion is nursed in very 
childhood. Three little boys were to have been examin- 
ed in geography. The tutor thought that there was 
scarcely time for the examination of this little class ; but 
instead of simply intimating this, and determining for 
himself, he put it to the vote of these republican young- 
sters, whether they would be examined or not, when 
the negative was carried by their uplifted hands ! 

As the theological students of this institution are gene- 
rally of a class to be contented with a brief and less ex- 
tended course of study than in some other seminaries, 
our young ministerial brethren were chiefly questioned 
in mental and moral science — the evidences of the in- 
spirations of the Scripture — and in subjects connected 
with biblical studies and divinity. 

The classical examination embraced translations, a 
careful analysis of language, and the grammatical con- 



NEW HAMPTON. 363 

struclion of sentences. We were pleased with the fre- 
quent use of the black board for writing both Greek and 
Latin, as well as for its customary use in mathematics. 
We regretted, however, the want of accuracy in the 
formation of the letters of the dead languages, and trust 
that this point will attract the attention of the tutors, who 
must be aware of its advantages. In various branches 
of mathematics, and the study of natural philosophy and 
chemistry, considerable progress was manifest. In the 
evening of this day, a numerous assembly was conven- 
ed, when, at the repuest of the ministers, we delivered 
addresses on the subject of education. 

The examinations in the female department were an- 
ticipated with great interest, and, to us, it appeared that 
this seminary could assert greater pretensions to superi- 
ority in comparison with others than the boy's school. 
An opportunity had been afforded of attending the ordi- 
nary studies of the pupils, having nevertheless, a refer- 
ence to the examination ; and a more substantial course 
of education we never witnessed. Whatever was taught, 
appeared to be taught thoroughly. No doubl considerable 
preparation had been made expressly for the annual dis- 
play ; but ample evidence was given of an acquaintance 
with principles, and not merely the attainment of a superfi- 
cial smattering, to be forgotten as quickly as acquired. It 
was sufficiently obvious that the exercises were not mere 
recitations from memory, but a vigorous application of 
mind was apparent, both on the part of teachers and 
pupils. We shall give a brief enumeration of the topics 
which engaged our attention on the public day. 

A judicious examination in Butler's Analogy was 
proceeding as we entered the hall ; the teacher took the 
ground of such opponents as the author combats ; and 



364 NEW HAMPTON. 

by stating in her own language the objections he an- 
swers and removes, elicited the knowledge which had 
been obtained by the .previous study of the work, and of 
the subjects it contains. This was followed by exam- 
inations in algebra, on the black board, which was cov- 
ered with figures, executed with the utmost neatness. 
Many demonstrations were thus given in the higher 
branches of arithmetic, and in algebra. Quadratic equa- 
tions were performed by the young ladies, with perfect 
accuracy, and explained with the promptitude which be- 
speaks clearness of conception. Next followed a class of 
botanists, who, with a bouquet for the indiscriminate distri- 
bution of a flower to each, proceeded to classify and ar- 
range them scientifically. A lively original discussion, 
on the most rational mode of commemorating the 4th 
of July ensued, as a sort of interlude. This was suc- 
ceeded by an examination of two young children, in the 
elements of geometry, conducted by one of the elder 
pupils. Portions of the first and seventh books of Vir- 
gil's iEneid were then translated and analysed. A 
clever dialogue on education was sustained with spirit. 
It was intended to represent a morning visit, supposed 
to be made by two fashionables, to tw r o literary ladies ; 
which led to an amusing altercation on their respective 
pursuits, in which w r ere many sallies of wit, indicative 
of considerable ingenuity in those who composed the 
piece. These episodes relieved and enlightened the 
meeting, instead of music. General history, with some 
portions of ancient history, taught by dictation, were in- 
troduced. The movements of the children of Israel in 
the wilderness, were described on a blank map, and a 
little girl, about six or seven years of age, gave a history 
of St. Paul. An original poem followed — and in sue-. 



NEW HAMPTON, 363 

cession, astronomy — an essay on America as it was, and 
as it is — reading in French, which was well pronounced 
and translated — and English poetry. These studies 
must have been instructive, from the careful analysis of 
each line, to which the pupils were accustomed ; but 
there was a cadence, which, without the specimens we 
had, might have led to the inference, that the whole 
school was accustomed to read line after line en masse, 
thereby acquiring the same tones and emphasis. A 
class was examined in Wayland's Moral Science. This 
was succeeded by physiology, natural history, and geo- 
graphy. A bible class gave so correct a synoptical 
view of the Epistle to the Romans, and evinced so much 
acquaintance with the general scope of the author, and 
the reasoning in different chapters, as to reflect the high- 
est credit on the assiduous teacher, who had communi- 
cated so much information. One young lady then read 
an original address to a society which had been formed 
among them, under the designation of a "Missionary 
Association ; '? another, about to leave school, delivered 
a valedictory address. Both these were admirable ; the 
latter was full of tender pathos. We were then re- 
quested to close this long day's session, which we did by 
an address and prayer. 

In this seminary, there are but few very young per- 
sons. The greater part will probably become teachers? 
» and may be considered as in training for those numer- 
ous common or district schools, which will be immensely 
benefited by a more competent class of instructors. The 
remainder, are young ladies of respectable families^ who 
resort here to finish their education. Of those who are 
more advanced in age, or who are preparing to become 
teachers, no inconsiderable number are necessitated to 



366 NEW HAMPTON. 

spend one-half their time in some profitable employ- 
ment ; that by carefully husbanding their wages, they 
may have wherewith to pay the expenses of their edu- 
cation, during the remainder of the year. This honour- 
able ambition was creditable to the pupil, as it is bene- 
ficial to society ; and it is found, that among them are 
many of the most promising scholars. Such propriety 
of conduct is displayed, that no distinctions are necessary, 
and none are attempted to be made in the seminary ; 
nor could it generally be known that any were ever 
occupied in mills or other factories, but from their periodi- 
cal absence, and other accidental circumstances. 

The same charges for tuition are made to all ; but the 
expenses are materially different for board, which each 
adapts to her means. All the scholars reside in the 
houses kept for the purpose, by persons of approved 
respectability, and where they live as members of the 
family. The teachers have only to attend them in the 
recitation rooms. It is in fact, a college for females, 
as much so as are the university establishments for men ; 
only there are no commons, as in the male department. 

In some of the boarding houses, a number can con- 
trive, to live for very little more than five shillings per 
week, each; and the charge for education is small. 
Drawing is taught, but not music and dancing. The 
two former accomplishments, are not in our opinion, 
pursued in America with the same success as in Eng- 
land ; for while there are specimens of individual pro- 
ficiency, there is a want of general excellence. In 
studying botany, each pupil collects and arranges, often 
with much taste and elegance, specimens which are pre- 
pared and preserved in an album, with such apt poetical 
or prase quotations, as fancy may dictate. We received 



NEW HAMPTON. 367 

an elegant present of a Hortus Siccus. In this de- 
scription of female education, so easily attainable by in- 
dividuals from any class who may aspire to it, England 
is greatly surpassed by America. We have but few, if 
any, institutions resembling this ; but it would be diffi- 
cult to assign any satisfactory reason why the plan of 
proprietary schools should not be extended to our 
daughters, or why they should be -deprived of the advan- 
tages of a more substantial and extended education. 
That a large number of British' ladies are to be found 
throughout the country, who yield to the ladies of no na- 
tions in the new or in the old world, may be confidently 
maintained ; but equal advantages with those enjoyed in 
the female academies of America, are by no means ac- 
cessible. On the contrary, the great mass of females 
with us, grow up comparatively in ignorance of much 
that is taught at New Hampton. 

We must not omit to mention that one of the most 
delightful features in this institution, is its religious cha- 
racter ; and the most judicious efforts are made to pro- 
duce and foster religious feeling. Its advantages are 
equally free for persons of every religious community. 
The teachers manifest a deep concern to awaken serious 
inquiry in the pupils. There is then a class of catechu- 
mens formed, and as the inquirers advance towards a 
decidedly christian character, they ate received into 
another class, which is considered a fellowship of true 
believers, into which those only are admitted who would 
be received, and many are actually received, as members 
into churches. In the use of these means a session 
rarely passes without several instances of conversion. 

On the morning of the 13th the students of both semi- 
naries assembled in the baptist ehapel, near the large 



S68 NEW HAMPTON. 

institution. It was a kind of commencement day, when 
the customary speeches, essays, orations of all descrip- 
tions, in Latin as well as in English, to the number of 
sixty, were delivered. Some of these displayed highly 
promising talents, but a few partook of a somewhat 
coarse and vulgar character; and, though admirably 
acted out, were exceptionable in point of taste. A band 
of music enlivened the whole, and it was a day of much 
enjoyment, 

New Hampton seminary is not burdened with debt ; 
the trustees possess a property of several acres of land, 
besides the college buildings; and a liberal effort is 
making to raise $6000, of which, if raised, one gentle- 
man has promised a fourth part, to provide enlarged 
accommodation for the female department. 

We met at this anniversary many estimable brethren 
from different parts of the state, from whom we heard 
much of the general state of the churches. One very 
instructive instance of personal devotedness, accompa- 
nied with extraordinary results, was related, as illustra- 
tive of the manner in which some revivals have origi- 
nated. A Mr. , member of the baptist church at , 

who was deeply interested in the great realities of religion, 
became much concerned at the low state of religion in 
the church of which he was a member. One day as he 
was musing on the desolations of Zion, he was power- 
fully impressed with the importance of immediate per- 
sonal effort, and it occurred to him that he had himself 
made but few direct attempts. He thought it was by 
no means impossible for an individual to call at all the 
houses scattered within a thinly-populated district, seven 
miles around his own dwelling, and converse with some 
one in each house upon the interests of the soul. Forth- 



NEW HAMPTON. 369 

with he formed the resolution ; and that very hour, 
taking his staff in his hand, he proceeded on his benevo- 
lent but romantic expedition. By the time he had ac- 
complished his purpose, it was thought there was not a 
house in the circuit, in which one or more hopeful con- 
versions had not taken place ; and within a few weeks 
200 persons were brought to a knowledge of the truth ! 

Some of the revivalists in these parts maintain that 
divine influence is often of that extraordinary nature, 
that supernatural intimations are given from God, even 
respecting the conversion of particular persons; in- 
stances illustrative of which were often given. Such 
communications are represented as indescribable, of 
which, when felt, you cannot but be assured, but if not 
felt they cannot be comprehended. At one town in the 
neighbourhood of New Hampton, we were informed, 
that three years ago, there was but the name of a 
church; but that the pastor had since then baptized 
between seventy and eighty each year, and had erected 
a place of worship eighty feet by sixty, which was so 
crowded that serious thoughts were entertained of erect- 
ing another chapel. Upon the whole it appeared to us, 
both from the brethren and friends with whom we asso- 
ciated, and the information communicated, that the 
baptists of New Hampshire are keeping pace with the 
times, and are not behind the other northern states of 
their country. 

The breaking up of this anniversary presented a 
most cheerful and joyous spectacle. Vehicles of every 
variety had been put into requisition ; and the diversi- 
fied costume of persons rather unceremonious about 
dress, together with the shirt sleeves of those who preferred 
being disencumbered of their upper garments, gave the 

32 



370 ANDOVER. 

usual peculiarity of appearance to the eye of a stranger. 
The weather was warm, and the meetings had been 
very crowded. A long cavalcade stretched down the 
hill leading from the upper to the lower seminary : there 
taking the road to Concord, we parted from many whom 
we shall see no more till the last generally assembly 
before the throne ! 

There is a deep romantic ravine through which the 
road winds soon after you have left the village, a sort 
of mountain pass, which is entered by crossing a pond 
or lake, over which a floating bridge is constructed. 
The logs are roughly hewn and firmly fastened, so that 
a regular corduroy road is laid over the surface of the 
placid water. We did not reach Concord till a late 
hour. The next day, having parted with the friends 
who had accompanied us, Dr. Sharp, Mr. Hague, and 
others from Boston, whose coach we were pleased for a 
long time to trace among the trees as it rolled along on 
the opposite side of the Merrimac, nearly parallel to our 
own course, — we pursued our way to Andover. We 
had but a short time to enjoy an interview .with Dr. 
Stuart ; a heavy rain and the anticipated arrival of the 
stage for Salem, prevented a minute survey of this ad- 
mirable college. Yery few seats of literature present 
altogether a more striking appearance. The site is 
elevated, the grounds well laid out, and the whole insti- 
tution impresses a stranger as worthy of the noble gene- 
rosity of its founders. Our intention, at the time, was to 
have revisited Andover, but no subsequent opportunity 
occurred. The number of students, which were about 
150, has been somewhat affected, particularly in the 
theological department, by the secession of between thirty 
and forty on anti-slavery grounds. This is one of the 



ANDOVER. 371 

seminaries which had recently been much agitated upon 
that topic, in consequence of a long series of meetings, 
for more than a fortnight. We are unable to pro- 
nounce an opinion upon the conflicting statements made 
by the parties ; for while, on the one hand, an extraor- 
dinary degree of intemperance, vehemence, personality, 
and indeed the want of every degree of customary 
decorum is charged upon the chief speaker, so that it 
was deemed proper to circulate attested statements of 
what actually occurred ; it is on the other hand as- 
serted, that although it was a period of religious revival^ 
the deepest interest was taken in the discussions for 
many successive days, and that besides the seceders, 
there are many equally determined, on conscientious 
grounds, to form an abolition society. An interruption 
of the course of things during a revival, by the introduc- 
tion of so exciting a topic, is as severely denounced by 
one party, as it is lauded by another, who if not suspi- 
cious of the soundness of those conversions which do not 
prevent all connivance at so gross an evil, in these en- 
lightened days, are at least desirous, that the«religious 
principles of their youth shall thus, from their earliest 
development, be imbued with universal charity, so as 
infallibly to pledge them upon this great cause. Dr. 
Stuart received us with the utmost cordiality. He is a 
thin tall man, having the unfettered ease of a republican, 
with the conversational communicativeness of one who 
is self-confident, without pride. We would gladly have 
prolonged our stay, in the society of a man who, as a 
scholar and biblical critic, holds so distinguished a place, 
though in some elaborate discussions, particularly with 
reference to the wine question, as it may be designated, 
there is too much reason to deplore much that is fanciful 



372 THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION. 

and hypercritical. Upon the subjects of temperance 
and abstinence, there is no small reason to apprehend, 
that in correcting what was vicious in the habits of the 
people, some evils and perhaps failure, will be risked by 
going to an opposite extreme. It is not uncommon to 
hear Americans deplore, that they were fast becoming a 
nation of drunkards; it springs doubtless from that godly 
sorrow, in many instances,.^ extolled in 2 Cor. vii., that 
such holy indignation is manifested to be " clear in this 
matter;" but enlightened guides should pause, when 
christians are seen laying the axe to the root of the trees 
in their orchards, lest intoxicating drinks should be ex- 
pressed from their fruits ; and what savours of the 
impious as well as of the absurd, devising some expedient, 
and providing some substitute for wine even at the 
Lord's supper ! Much elaborate research and critical 
acumen may be displayed in a controversy to establish 
an essential difference between the Hebrew tirosh and 
ai/i, as if the one denoted a prohibited alcoholic fluid, 
the other an innoxious and lawful stimulant, when pro- 
perly administered ; but no one can doubt, whether the 
Saviour spake of or used such wine, as would in the 
process of maturing have " burst old leathern bottles." 
Whether the ancient Hebrews would have called it ain 
or tirosh, when it was new, it required "new bottles," 
and then, " both were preserved." 

It is in the highest degree hazardous to tamper with 
positive religious institutions ; they are supported exclu- 
sively by the expressed will of the founder. We are 
under a moral obligation to obey the positive institution, 
though the act prescribed may in itself be altogether 
immaterial, a thing of perfect indifference in respect of 
moral attributes ; hence, any alteration in forms of 



SALEM. 373 

observance, any substitution of one thing for another, 
abrogates the institution itself, the very essence of obedi- 
ence consisting in a rigid adherence to the authoritative 
prescription. We were sorry to hear that any of our 
churches were embarrassed with scruples about the alco- 
hol lurking in the ordinary wines used at the commu- 
nion ; but did not learn that any had, on that solemn 
occasion, altogether abandoned the use of it, as some of 
other communities have done. It is affecting to observe 
how promptly the spirit of commerce avails itself of even 
religious scruples ; for among the most common adver- 
tisements, are " communion wines " for sale ; a fact, in 
itself, sufficient to enlighten the understanding of any 
judicious man. 

We reached Salem the same day, August 14th. Our 
intellectual friend, Mr. John Wayland, pastor of the first 
church, and brother to the president of Brown Univer- 
sity, and his hospitable neighbour and deacon, Mr. 
Shepherd, received us to their houses. No stranger can 
visit this handsome city without calling to recollection 
the noble-mindedness of the men of former days, who 
refused the trade of Boston, which royal bounty would 
have transferred to their port as the price of a traitorous 
desertion of their country's cause. But no ; they would 
not be bribed into perfidy ! There is not much show 
of commerce in this city ; but the park-like square in 
the centre, surrounded with many substantial dwellings, 
gives an air at once of elegance and affluence. Our 
friends kindly formed a party for an excursion to Nahant, 
distant nine miles, considered to be the first watering 
place in the States, as we vulgarly call the unrivalled 
towns on our coast. English travellers are indebted to 
many of their feelings of disappointment, and their 
32* 



374 SALEM. 

American friends are offended with many a rude remark 
consequent on such feelings, to a very absurd, though 
not unnatural tendency in the human mind, to associate 
and compare objects. This original propensity is parti- 
cularly indulged in by visitors from the old country, who 
go across the Atlantic to survey the creations of their 
rivals, who have sprung from the same stock, and who 
speak the same tongue. But how ridiculous to go to Sara- 
toga dreaming of Cheltenham or Leamington; or to drive 
to Nahant with Brighton floating in your recollection ! 
Our equipage would not have disgraced nobility ; it was 
an elegant carriage and four fine horses. The excur- 
sion altogether was delightful, to which the intelligence 
and refinement of our party contributed not a little. As 
we stood upon a rock gazing upon the scene where the 
Shannon and Chesapeake fought, and listened to the 
details from one of our company who watched from the 
same spot the phrenzied conflict, we could scarcely 
repress the imprecation, " Dark be the destinies of 
those who shall ever plunge our countries into ano- 
ther war !" 

The proudest distinction of Salem is her ample and 
efficient provisions for the education of youth. It is 
adequate to the wants of all, so that there if any remain 
untaught it must arise from their own negligence, which, 
however, is of rare occurrence. Scarcely such a pheno- 
menon is to be found as that of a child born in Salem 
who is uneducated, and every one may, if he chooses, 
obtain instruction to fit him for college. 

Religion is generally flourishing, and in our churches 
there is much to gratify. That of Mr. Wayland is 
large, consisting of more than 500 members ; we preach- 
ed there, and at the second church, which was expecting 



SALEM. 375 

the immediate arrival of a pastor. About 150 members are 
here united, and the most cheering expectations indulged. 
One circumstance during the devotional parts of public 
worship was remarkable; the whole congregation re- 
mained motionless, without any change of posture, or 
the slightest adjustment of the person to a different atti- 
tude. At first it seems to a stranger as if it were not 
their intention to respond to the customary invitation, 
"let us pray." Mr. Olroyd, of Danvers, was urgent to 
receive one of the delegates into his pulpit, when a large 
and deeply attentive audience was assembled. His 
church consists of about 150 members. Before our de- 
parture, so large a number called to express their frater- 
nal interest in our mission, it proved to us at once a 
meeting and a separation from relatives and friends. 
As much had been crowded into a visit of three days as 
was possible, during which literature, slavery, politics, 
and religion, formed frequent topics of conversation. 

We hastened back to Boston for the purpose of spend- 
ing the 18th of August in the family of our friend Dr. 
Sharp— a day rendered memorable in their domestic 
history, by the marriage of a beloved daughter. The 
bride and bridegroom stood at the end of a parlour, ren- 
dered spacious by the opening of folding-doors, each 
sustained by their respective companions, and forming a 
semi-circle, in the centre of which Dr. Sharp himself 
stood. We occupied a place on each hand of our friend, 
and the circle was completed by the different members 
of the family, relatives and visitors. The bridegroom 
then handed a paper to Dr. Sharp, as the officiating 
minister, of which the following is a copy : — 



376 MARRIAGE CEREMONY. — NEWTON. 

« City of Boston, S. S. 

" An Intention of Marriage, 
between Doct. James B. Gregerson and Miss Elizabeth 
W. Sharp, both of Boston, hath been entered with me 
for the space of fourteen days, and due publication thereof 
has been made as the law directs. 

" In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, 
the thirty-first day of July, Anno Domini, 1835. 

"S. F. M. Cleary, City Clerk." 

The reading of this certificate suggested an introduc- 
tory remark on the object of the meeting. A few plain 
questions were asked, and answered, respectively, by the 
bridegroom and bride, when they were pronounced hus- 
band and wife. Dr. Sharp then gave a brief, but 
pathetic address, in the midst of which he presented his 
newly-married children with an elegant bible, with ap- 
propriate remarks on that volume as their chief treasure. 
We were requested, the one at the commencement, the 
other at the conclusion of the solemn engagement, to 
offer a short prayer. We may be pardoned for express- 
ing the opinion, that a ceremony so simple and social, 
and withal so devout, incomparably surpassed the super- 
stitious, and, to many, the offensive conformity to which 
all classes in our own country are so reluctantly com- 
pelled. 

At the close of the marriage festival, an hour's ride 
brought us to Newton, where we heard an address 
from Mr. J. Wayland of Salem, to the students of the 
theological institution, and another in the evening to the 
alumni from Mr. Hague of Boston ; both worthy of the 
reputation of our talented iViends. On the following 
morning, the 19th of August, we attended the anni- 
versary OF THE THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION, which 



NEWTON. 377 

was held in the baptist meeting-house. The assem- 
bly was unusually numerous, and we were gratified 
with the opportunity of associating with gentlemen 
of eminence in various professions, and of different chris- 
tian denominations. A class of thirteen had on that 
day completed the regular three years' course, and deli- 
vered essays on the occasion. We give the subjects, and 
names of the speakers : — 

The condition of the Jews in the century before 
Christ, by Alvan Felch, of Limerick, Maine. — The Ar- 
gument for Christianity, derived from Miracles, by John 
George Naylor, of Melbourne, England. — Methods of 
exciting an interest in the study of the Bible, by Joseph 
Banvard, of the city of New York. — Characteristics of 
the Puritan style of Preaching, by Joshua Millet, of 
Leeds, Maine. — State and Prospects of Mohammedan- 
ism, by Lewis Colby, of Boston, Massachusetts. — Sobri- 
ety in the Interpretation of Prophecies, by Cornelius A. 
Thomas, of Braintree, Massachusetts. — Translation of 
Isaiah xvii. 12, to xviii. 7, with a brief Commentary, by 
Samuel W. Clark, of Wethersfield, Connecticut. — Inter- 
pretation of Matthew xxiv. 29 — 31, by John B. Hague, 
of Hackensack, New Jersey. — The proper method of 
treating the Papists, by Francis Sieg, of Cincinnati, 
Ohio. — Evils of hasty Pastoral Connexions, by Russell 
Jennings, of Meriden, Connecticut. — The claims of a 
Pastor's flock upon his attention, by Joseph W. Eaton, 
of Boston, Massachusetts. — The Influence of Philoso- 
phical Systems in corrupting Primitive Christianity, by 
David N. Sheldon, of Sufneld, Connecticut. — The Con- 
nexion between the Doctrines and the Precepts of 
Christianity, by Charles Johnson, of Canton, Massa- 
chusetts. 



378 NEWTON. 

It would be invidious to express our opinion upon the 
comparative merits of these productions, but we can un- 
hesitatingly pronounce upon them generally as excellent 
in manner, language, and sentiment ; evincing not only 
the talents of the speakers, but the value of the instruc- 
tion they had received under our estimable brethren, the 
professors Chace, Knowles, and Ripley. After prayer, 
professor Chace formally introduced us to the assembly, 
and in conclusion of his speech said, " Honoured breth- 
ren ! we welcome you to our holiest places. We greet 
you as the messengers of the churches and the glory of 
Christ. From this hallowed scene — from this holy con- 
vocation, we would send our christian salutations by you 
to the land of our ancestors. We would bid our breth- 
ren beyond the ocean, God speed, in the promotion of 
truth and holiness, and in all their labours of love for 
the salvation of our fellow-men." Dr. Cox then 
delivered an address on the subject of the Christian 
Ministry. 

During the year, the professor of biblical literature, 
instructed the junior class in the Hebrew language, 
using professor Stuart's Hebrew Grammar, and Chres- 
tomathy. They had studied also the geography and 
antiquities of the bible, Lowth's Lectures on Hebrew 
Poetry, Campbell's Dissertations, Ernesti on the Inter- 
pretation of the New Testament, and the Harmony of 
the Gospels in Greek ; besides attending a series of lec- 
tures on biblical literature. The middle class prosecut- 
ed the study of Chaldee, making use of Riggs's Manual. 
They further read Jahn's Introduction to the Old Testa- 
ment, and completed the critical study and interpretation 
of the Greek New Testament. Lectures were given by 
the professor as an introduction to some of the most dif- 



NEWTON. 379 

ficult books. At each exercise, in addition to a general 
examination, the pupils, in alphabetical order, presented 
a written interpretation of some passage discussed at the 
preceding lecture. Attention also was given to select 
portions of the Hebrew prophetical scriptures, and 
to a systematic course of reading on Jewish history. 
Under the professor of pastoral duties, sketches of ser- 
mons were produced and criticised, and works on sacred 
rhetoric read and analyzed. The senior class, under 
the professor of biblical theology, were conducted to a 
view of the evidences of Christianity, and to the conside- 
ration of a series of theological subjects. In ecclesiasti- 
cal his lory, they had studied the progress of religion from 
the time of our Saviour to the close of the eleventh cen- 
tury. In the department of sacred rhetoric they had 
studied Porter's Lectures on Homiletics and Preaching, 
in connexion with Campbell on Pulpit Eloquence, with 
free remarks by the professor. In addition to a sermon, 
there had been a weekly exercise, at which one member 
of the class had read an analytical essay respecting some 
distinguished preacher of ancient or modern times, pre- 
senting a brief sketch of his history, a list of his works, 
an analysis of one of his discourses, and a general exami- 
nation of his style. A course of lectures also on sacred 
rhetoric was delivered, and one member of the class de- 
claimed every week. In the department of pastoral 
duties, twenty-two written lectures had been delivered ; 
and a weekly discussion by the class, in the presence of 
the professor. The object of this exercise was both to 
increase a knowledge of these subjects, and to cultivate 
the talent of extemporaneous speaking. Prayer and 
conference meetings, bible classes, and Sabbath-schools 



380 



NEWTON. 



had been sustained by the members of the institution, 
and the students preached in forty-five places. 

We were invited to attend the meeting of the trustees 
of the institution in the afternoon. The annual report 
was read ; and among other business, the establishment 
of a separate professorship of ecclesiastical history was 
considered, and we believe, determined. It was to em- 
brace the evidences of revelation, the formation, pre- 
servation, transmission, and canonical authority of the 
sacred volume, the ancient and subsequent history of 
the Hebrews, and of the nations with whose history that 
of the Hebrews is connected ; the history of Christianity, 
and the various opinions and practices which have been 
supported under its name, with their causes and conse- 
quences, the attempts at reformation, and the present 
state of the heathen world, as well as the origin of the 
different denominations of professed christians. 

We spent a few days at the house of Mrs. Cobb, the 
widow of one of the earliest and best friends of the New- 
ton Institution. The whole establishment was a pro- 
ject dear to his heart, and had his life been spared, he 
would have been among the most active of its friends. 
This anniversary renewed the bitterness of grief in the 
heart of the widow, as she looked upon her fatherless 
son ; and our sympathy appreciated the feeling which 
prevented her from revisiting the scene which in brighter 
days would have enraptured her benevolent mind. 

Nathaniel Ripley Cobb, Esq., displayed the charac- 
ter of a christian merchant in all its varieties of 
excellence. He was born November 3, 1798 ; in May, 
1818, joined Dr. Sharp's church in Boston ; commenced 
business in 1819 ; married Sarah, the daughter of 
T. Kendall, Esq., in 1820 ; and after several weeks of 



N. R» COBB) ESQ. 381 

decline, expired May 22, 1834, in the 36th year of his 
age. He was one of the few noble-hearted men of 
wealth, whose affluence is constantly proved by their 
munificence. Yet it was not always from what is 
strictly denominated affluence that he was so benevo- 
lent, inasmuch as the vows of God were upon him that 
he would never become rich ; and he redeemed the 
the holy pledge which he had given by consecrating his 
gains to the Lord. In November, 1821, he drew up 
the following remarkable document : — 

" By the grace of God, I will never be worth more 
than $50,000. 

" By the grace of God, I will give one-fourth of the 
net profits of my business to charitable and religious 
uses. 

" If I am ever worth $20,000, I will give one-half of 
my net profits ; and if I am ever worth $30,000, I will 
give three-fourths ; and the whole, after $50,000. So 
help me God ; or give to a more faithful steward, and 
set me aside. 

"Nov. 1821. N. R. Cobb." 

He adhered to this covenant with conscientious fideli- 
ty. At one time, finding his property had increased 
beyond $50,000, he at once devoted the surplus $7,500 
as a foundation for a professorship in the Newton Insti- 
tution, to which, on various occasions during his short 
life, he gave at least twice that amount. Though a 
baptist, and ever ready to perform any service for the 
church and the denomination to which he belonged, yet 
he was prompt in affording aid to all wise designs which 
appeared to have a claim upon him as a christian, a 
philanthropist, and a patriot. He was a generous friend 
to many young men, whom he assisted in establishing 
33 



382 FANUEIL HALL MEETING 

themselves in business, and to many who were unfor- 
tunate. 

Seldom was this excellent man absent from any meet- 
ings of the church, even amidst the greatest pressure of 
business. He rejoiced in the conversion of sinners 7 and 
constantly aided his pastor in the inquiry meeting. His 
temper was placid, his manners affable, his integrity en- 
tire. He was, besides, distinguished by great business 
talents, and by an acute penetration into the characters 
of men, .Energy and activity were his element. We 
could willingly transcribe his diary before us ; but a very 
few short sentences, uttered in his last sickness, must 
suffice : " Within the last few days, I have had some 
glorious views of heaven. It is indeed a glorious thing 
to die. I have been active and busy in the world. I 
have enjoyed it as much as any one. God has prospered 
me. I have every thing to tie me here. I am happy 
in my family ; I have property enough ; but how small 
and mean does this world appear when we are on a 
sick-bed ! Nothing can equal my enjoyment in the near 
prospect of heaven. My hope in Christ is worth infi- 
nitely more than all other things. The blood of Christ, 
the blood of Christ, none but Christ." 

Alas, how little did we imagine, while for a few days 
partaking of the elegant hospitalities of the mansion, 
from which this christian merchant had so lately de- 
parted to our "Father's house," that our beloved friend, 
his then surviving widow, would soon and suddenly be 
summoned to rejoin her husband ! Scarcely, however, 
had we re-crossed the Atlantic, when the intelligence 
reached us. We blend our sympathies with those who 
live, knowing that u the survivors die ! " 

Among the public meetings of Boston, we must not 



FANUEIL HALL MEETING. 383 

©mit the mention of our attendance at the great meet- 
ing at Fanueil Hall, convened on the 21st, for the 
avowed purpose of neutralizing the influence of the 
abolitionists in the north, and tranquilizing the agitation 
of the south, on the subject of slavery. It was an im- 
mense assembly, and was both intended and represented 
to have set the subject at rest, by passing unanimously 
the following resolutions : 

"Whereas it has become matter of public notoriety, that pro- 
jects are entertained by individuals in the northern states of this 
Union, for effecting the immediate abolition of slavery in our 
sister states, and that associations have been formed for this 
end ; and there is cause to believe that the numbers and influ- 
ence of these persons have been greatly exaggerated by the ap- 
prehensions of many of our southern brethren, and too proba- 
bly by the sinister designs of others, who discern an occasion to 
promote in the south disaffection to our happy union; and in 
consequence of the great and increasing excitement prevailing 
upon this subject, it becomes our duty to attempt to calm the 
minds and assure the confidence of the good people of those 
states, by expressing the sense of this community upon these 
procedures. We, the citizens of Boston, here assembled, hereby 
make known our sentiments respecting this momentous subject, 
in the hope that the same may be favourably received and 
adopted by other communities and assemblies of our fellow- 
citizens, so that a public and general sentiment may be demon- 
strated to exist in the north, adverse to these destructive pro- 
jects. We hold this truth to be indisputable, that the condition 
of slavery finds no advocates among our citizens — our laws do 
not authorize it — our principles revolt against it — our citizens 
will never tolerate its existence among them. But although 
they hold these opinions, they will not attempt to coerce their 
brethren in other states to conform to them. They know that 
slavery, with all its attendant evils, was entailed upon the south 
by the mother country, and so firmly engrafted upon their social 
system^ that the revolution, which sundered the political ties 



384 FANUEIL HALL MEETING. 

to Great Britain, had no effect whatever in loosening those 
which bound the slave to his master in the colonial state. This 
condition of things continued and existed at the adoption of 
the federal constitution. By that sacred compact which consti- 
tutes the American Union one nation, the rights and jurisdic- 
tion of the southern states were recognized and confirmed by 
all the rest. The actual state of their social relations was the 
basis of that compact; and we disclaim the right, and disbelieve 
the policy, and condemn the injustice of all efforts to impair or 
disturb solemn obligations thus imposed upon ourselves by our 
free act, with a full knowledge of their nature and bearing upon 
the political system, and by an adherence to which we have 
together prospered in peace, and triumphed in war, for nearly 
half a century. 

" Entertaining these views, we solemnly protest against the 
principles and conduct of the few, who in their zeal would scat- 
ter among our southern brethren, firebrands, arrows, and death. 
We deplore the illusion of a greater (though we still believe a 
small) number of estimable, moral and pious persons, who, 
confiding in the purity of their motives, but blind to the appal- 
ling consequences, unconsciously co-operate with them in their 
attempts to violate the sacred faith of treaties, and the plain 
principles of international law. And above all, we regard with 
feelings of indignation and disgust, the intrusion upon our do- 
mestic relations of alien emissaries, sustained by the funds of a 
foreign people. The national government has uniformly acted 
upon the principles of non-intervention in the domestic policy 
of foreign nations, and the people have imposed restraints upon 
their sympathies and feelings, which, had these only been con- 
sulted, would have led them to compel their government to 
abandon its neutral position. Surely the obligations which 
confederated states owe to each other are not less sacred than 
those which regulate their conduct toward foreign nations. The 
evils of slavery fall more immediately on those among whom it 
exists, and they alone, by natural and conventional right, are 
competent to make laws under which it shall be mitigated, abo- 
lished, or endured. These evils can only be aggravated, to the 
discomfort and danger of the master, and the prejudice and 



FANUEIL HALL MEETING. 385 

misery of the slave, by attempts to encroach upon this juris- 
diction. 

" Therefore Resolved, That the people of the United States, 
by the constitution under which by the divine blessing they 
hold their most valuable political privileges, have solemnly 
agreed with each other to leave to the respective states the 
jurisdiction pertaining to the relation of master and slave 
within their boundaries, and that no man or body of men, 
except the people or governments of those states, can of 
right do any act to dissolve or impair the obligations of that 
contract. 

" Resolved, That we hold in reprobation all attempts, in what- 
ever guise they may appear, to coerce any of the United 
States to abolish slavery by appeals to the terror of the master 
or the passions of the slave. 

" Resolved, That we disapprove of all associations instituted 
in the non- slave-holding states with an intent to act within the 
slave-holding states without their consent. For the purpose of 
securing freedom of individual thought and expression they 
are needless; and they are inexpedient inasmuch as they afford 
to those persons in the southern states, whose object is to effect 
a dissolution of the Union, (if any such there may be now or 
hereafter) a pretext for the furtherance of their schemes. 

" Resolved, That all measures, the natural and direct ten- 
dency of which is to excite the slaves of the south to revolt, or 
to spread among them a spirit of insubordination, are repug- 
nant to the duties of the man and the citizen, and that where 
such measures become manifested by overt acts, which are cog- 
nizable by constitutional laws, we will aid by all the means in 
our power in the support of those laws. 

"Resolved, That while we recommend to others the duty of 
sacrificing their opinions, passions, and sympathies upon the 
altar of the laws, we are bound to show that a regard to the 
supremacy of those laws is the rule of our own conduct; and 
consequently to deprecate and oppose all tumultuary assem- 
blies, all riotous or violent proceedings, all outrages on person 
tnd property, and all illegal notions of the right or duty of exe- 
33* 



386 FANUEIL HALL MEETING, 

cuting summary and vindictive justice in any mode unsanc- 
tioned by law. 

Three long addresses were delivered, with which the 
assembled multitudes vociferously expressed their satis- 
faction. The resolutions were introduced by a speech 
of talent, in which the orator, however, seemed crippled 
by his subject. Its great object, was to maintain the 
integrity of the Union, which was endangered by aboli- 
tion proceedings. Mr. Fletcher said, " It is known that 
before the formation of the constitution, every state pos- 
sessed sovereign and exclusive control of this subject 
within its own borders. The power of its regulation 
belonged to each individual state. And thus the con- 
stitution left it — untouched — entirely exclusive. And 
this was no mistake — no accident; it was left so by 
design. Into this compact we entered freely — delibe- 
rately — and pledged ourselves most solemnly to abide by 
its provisions. Under that compact we still live and 
nourish — the sun in its circuit looks not on a land more 
blessed. Under that sacred constitution, then — faithful 
to its spirit and letter — let us hope to live and to die : the 
hopes of the slave and the freeman — the black and 
the white — are bound up together in the union of 
these states. If that union is ever in the providence 
of God to be torn assunder, I trust, in that melancholy- 
event, it may be in our power to say that — We are guilt- 
less ! If the glorious banner that waves over us is ever 
to be torn down, may it not be by our hand ! " 

The Hon. M. Sprague admitted slavery to be a great 
moral and political plague, but seemed to deem it a ne- 
cessary evil. There was a great deal of insinuation in 
his speech respecting the personal and political views of 



FANUEIL HALL MEETING. 387 

abolitionists, ultimate and ulterior objects. He depre- 
cated the course they pursued by saying, " he saw no 
good that could result from agitating and inflaming the 
public mind at the north on this solemn and delicate 
subject ; not if the excitement pervaded every section 
and state on this side of the Potomac. What benefit 
would result from such an excitement ? Is it proposed to 
operate on the fears of the slave-holders? By such a 
course you might bind the cords of the slave closer — 
make his chains heavier — and dig his dungeon deeper ; 
for fear hardens the heart against all touches of human- 
ity, but you could effect neither his emancipation nor the 
improvement of his condition." Many customary analo- 
gies were introduced to show that the privation of the 
slave was like that abridgment of liberty in reference to 
children, lunatics, apprentices, &c., without regard to the 
frequent replies, that the sophistry of such reasoning is 
to be detected hi the want of resemblance between the 
things compared. An effect perfectly electrical was pro- 
duced by a reference to Washington as a slave-holder : 
"When Massachusetts stood alone, breasting the torrent of 
British power, and when our gallant brethren of the 
south came generously to her assistance — what was then 
thought of communion with slave-holders ! When the 
streets of Boston and the fields of Lexington and Con- 
cord were flowing with the blood of our citizens, spilt 
by the myrmidons of Great Britain — when that man — 
a slave-holder — (turning to the full-length painting of 
Washington, which forms the most valuable decoration 
of old Faneuil) — when that slave-holder, who there smiles 
upon this audience — with the slave-holders under his 
command — united in driving the enemy from our 
streets, and from this hall — our fathers surely thought it 



388 AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 

no reproach to hold communion with him and with 
them ! " 

The Honourable H. G. Otis, expended much critical 
acumen in so elucidating the scriptures, as to reconcile 
slavery with the word of God. But, notwithstanding 
his general popularity as a speaker, there were many 
who did not appear to sympathize with his theology. 

The American Institute of Education was at this period 
holding its annual series of meetings, in the spacious hall 
of representatives, in the state house. It was gratifying to 
witness such an assembly of the teachers of seminaries 
convened from all parts, male and female, for the purpose 
of hearing prepared essays on given subjects relating to ed- 
ucation, and conferring together in the manner of formal 
discussions on questions of moment in relation to it. 
About 300 were present ; ladies on one side, and gentle- 
men on the other, in semicircular seats. Among other 
good essays, was one delivered "on the necessity of an 
acquaintance with the philosophy of the mind in order 
to teach others." The matter as usual was superior to 
the manner. There was a useful discussion on the con- 
dition of the district schools. No opportunity was 
afforded of attending others. This institution has ex- 
isted but a few years ; and he adaptation to usefulness, 
of its plan of a general conference of those who are 
engaged in the work of tuition, is evident. 

On the 24th, we made an excursion to Newburyport, 
thirty-nine miles from Boston, to see the tomb of White- 
field. On our arrival, after a brief repast, we hasten- 
ed to the depository of the precious remains of that emi- 
nent servant of God. On the Saturday before his de- 
cease, he had preached at Exeter at the distance of fifteen 
miles. It was his last sermon, and a still surviving 



WHITEFIELD. 389 

hearer remembers the hard asthmatic breathing against 
which his impassioned spirit struggled during its delivery. 
He was to have preached the next day in the first pres- 
byterian church at Newburyport, where his dust now 
reposes ; but instead of ascending the pulpit to preach, 
he was called to rise to the nobler elevation of a mansion 
above. The assembled multitudes awaited his appear- 
ance amongst them in vain. It was the sabbath morning ; 
to them how mournful — to him how glorious ! In the 
south-east corner of the church is a cenotaph, which was 
erected a few years since by Mr. Bartlett ; and through 
the window immediately behind it, we gazed on the house 
just visible through the trees where Whitefield breathed 
his last ! We descended with some difficulty into the sub- 
terraneous vault, which is immediately behind the pulpit, 
in a small chamber like a vestry, external to the body of 
the church. Deep expectant emotions thrilled through 
our bosoms, while a kind of trap door was opened, and 
we descended beneath the floor to another, which stood 
perpendicularly, by which we entered, or rather crept, 
into the awful and silent sepulchre. There were three 
coffins placed in parallel lines ; two of them containing 
the mortal part of Mr. Parsons and Mr. Prince, the 
former pastors of the church. We instinctively took 
our seats, the one on the one coffin, the other on 
the other, with the coffin of Whitefield between, over 
which, when the upper part of the lid was removed, to 
reveal the skeleton secrets of the narrow prison-house, 
we bent in solemn stillness and awe. We gazed on the 
fragments — we contemplated and handled the skull of 
that great " preacher of righteousness ; " — we thought of 
his devoted life, his blessed death, his high and happy 



390 HARVARD COLLEGE. 

destiny : and whispered our adorations of the grace that 
formed him both for earth and heaven ! 

In the evening, a prayer meeting on behalf of the 
slaves was to be held at the baptist place of worship. 
We were earnestly requested to allow an announcement 
instead, that we should preach ; but declined superseding 
a meeting for so important an object. We readily 
agreed, however, to unite in the unaltered service, con- 
senting only to intermingle addresses with the devotions 
of the occasion. The attendance was very numerous. 
Mr. Williams is pastor of the church, which is flourish- 
ing, and consists of 200 members. The congregation 
amounts to 500 or 600, and there is a good sabbath- 
school of 150. 

The next day we returned, and met our agreeable 
friends Dr. Sharp, Mr. Malcom, Dr. Cumstock, Mrs. 
Cobb, and other ladies and gentlemen from the vicinity 
of Brookline, at the house of our brother, Mr. Warne. 
This was one of the sunny days of existence ; but of 
this party Mrs. Cobb is no more, and Mr. Malcom is 
gone on a three years' important embassy to the east, to 
subserve the interests of missions. 

The polite urgency of the Hon. Heman Lincoln, who 
had been precluded from receiving us as his guests dur- 
ing former visits, now constrained us to transfer our tem- 
porary residence to his abode. We were thus conve- 
niently situated for attending the commencement of 
Harvard College, Cambridge, which was celebrated on 
the 26th. We were invited to it by an obliging card 
from the president, Dr. Q,uincy. This splendid univer- 
sity is truly one of the eyes of the nation, albiet to us there 
is theologically not a mote only, but a beam in it. Our 
introduction to many of the first men in the state was 






WASHINGTON. 391 

truly gratifying, and we partook with an immense com- 
pany of the sumptuous repast, after the literary festival 
had terminated. Of this intellectual display we shall 
be pardoned for omitting further mention, as we must 
notice that at Providence, which was, in all important 
particulars, similar. A series of lectures on Peace were 
about to be delivered at Cambridge ; and among the 
lecturers we heard the names of Channing, Fletcher, 
Sprague, Wayland and others. 

The 24th was a day of ministerial labour, when each 
of us preached three times. This was an arrangement 
which we both regretted, as it left almost no opportunity 
to sit at the feet of our brethren, and hear their instruc- 
tion. By going to fulfil a preaching engagement at 
Charlestown, another opportunity was afforded of meet- 
ing father Grafton, as he is familiarly called. He stated 
in the course of conversation, at the house of Mr. Jack- 
son, that Dr. Hezekiah Smith, formerly pastor of the 
baptist church at Haverhill, in Massachusetts, who has 
now been dead about thirty years, was a chaplain in the 
army of General Washington, and knew him well. Mr. 
Smith was a man of great judgment, and very cautious 
in his conclusions. He assured Mr. Grafton that it was 
the settled conviction of his mind, that Washington was 
a truly pious man. He believed him to be addicted to 
private devotion, and he attended public worship with 
great regularity. 

We shall not enter upon a detail of private and social 
engagements. From some of the elegant villas in the 
neighbourhood, the view of Boston is incomparable, and 
we were often struck with the unusual clearness and 
brightness of the atmosphere. On one occasion, our 
attention was drawn to the sudden appearance of a cloud 



392 WEBSTER. 

slowly forming itself into a more sublime pillar than the 
imagination can conceive, and resting in the motionless 
atmosphere, so as to remind the reader of scripture of 
the cloudy pillar of the wilderness. We afterwards as- 
certained that it was produced by an explosion of salt- 
petre from a fire on board a vessel, which blew out her 
decks, and did much damage in the neighbouring 
wharves and streets. The great fire at Charlestown 
was also seen by us, under similar circumstances, 
from our friend Mr. Warne's, two or three days after- 
wards. It consumed more than 100 dwellings, by 
which upwards of 300 families were rendered houseless. 
The loss was supposed to be $200,000. We were in- 
troduced by our friend the Hon. H. Lincoln to the de- 
servedly-celebrated Daniel Webster. He has a dark 
countenance, with an eye approaching to brilliancy ; but 
though his countenance is not so decidedly characteristic 
of genius as many, yet his general appearance and man- 
ner denote intellectual superiority. His sentiments ap- 
peared to us to be in all respects enlightened and liberal. 
Our conversation was excursive, but chiefly embraced 
geology, slavery, and politics. He spoke with high sat- 
isfaction of the probable permanence of peace between 
England and America. 

Boston is an irregularly-built city, rising on all sides 
from the water to the lofty summit, which is crowned 
by the state-house. The view from that elevation is 
one of the finest imaginable ; but the panoramic scene 
from the Bunker's Hill Monument would, probably, be still 
better adapted for a large painting. We visited the ob- 
jects which ordinarily attract travellers, but must forego 
description for what is more appropriate to our mission. 

It has been the custom to represent the baptist deno- 



CHURCHES IN BOSTON. 393 

irrigation as flourishing most in the south, and chiefly 
among the slaves in Virginia. The accounts we have 
given of that state are indeed calculated to inspire devout 
gratitude ; but to infer that the chief strength of our 
churches is so confined to the slave states, that only a 
few feeble and uninfluential congregations exist in the 
large cities, would be premature and unjust. We had 
been apprised of the prosperity with which God had hon» 
oured our brethren in Boston, and had formed a friend- 
ship with some of these devoted pastors, who met us in 
the south. We knew that Boston had presented some 
of the happiest instances of amicable division for the pur- 
pose of extending religion, and it was now our privilege 
to witness the vigorous expansion of these effects of a 
holy zeal. The American churches are not perfectly 
free from strife, divisions, and jealousies ; but numerous 
are the evidences that churches may divide and prosper, 
and that this procedure is conducive alike to individual 
welfare and general good. 

Religion flourishes here among the orthodox of all 
denominations, so that each might boast of almost equal 
trophies, while all would unite and lay their honours at 
the Saviour's feet. This is the more remarkable, as this 
city has ever been regarded as the strong hold of unita^- 
rianism. The churches maintaining these views, with 
more or less of modification, are still the most numerous. 
The acquaintance we formed with the pastors of our 
churches at Boston was eminently pleasing. Of these. 
Dr. Sharp is the senior ; a man distinguished for en- 
lightened prudence and sound practical wisdom, and for 
the graces in general which adorn the christian minister. 
To him it is easy to concede the paternal influence due 
to his years and experience. Shortly after our visit, as 

34 



394 CHURCHES IN BOSTON. 

the moderator of the Boston Association, our distinguish' 
ed friend adjourned the meeting, which had been cha- 
racterized by solemnity, harmony, and brotherly kind- 
ness, with an address full of tenderness and fatherly 
counsel. He said, i: it was the twenty -fourth session of 
the body which he had attended, and he was happy to 
know that its deliberations had never been distracted, 
either by division or dissention." To this blessed union 
and harmony we have reason to believe that his own 
influence has materially contributed. There are seven 
baptist churches in Boston, some of which are large ; 
two containing upwards of 500 members each, one 400, 
and another 300. Considerably more than 2000 mem- 
bers are enrolled among them, and their places of wor- 
ship are in all respects worthy cf the liberality of the 
people. The anniversary meetings were held in the 
spacious chapel at Federal-street, of which Mr. H. 
Malcom was the much valued pastor. He has been 
succeeded by Mr. G. B. Ide from Albany. The di- 
mensions of this place of worship are eighty-seven feet 
by seventy-six, and it accommodates, probabty 1800 or 
2000 hearers. The dimensions of three other baptist 
chapels are eighty feet by eighty, seventy-four by seven- 
ty-four, and seventy-two by sixty-seven. The pastors 
are Dr. Sharp of Charles-street, Mr. Hague of the first 
church, Mr. Baron Stow of the second. All are well 
attended, as are the others of smaller size. The Afri- 
can church is situated in Belknap-street, and holds 600 
people. It now destitute of a pastor. Seven or eight 
thousand may be estimated as the number of stated 
hearers dispersed among them, and each church sup- 
ports a flourishing Sunday-school. 

The seventh church was constituted very shortly be- 



CHURCHES IN BOSTON. 395 

fore our visit to the city. Notice was given of the in- 
tention, stating that members dismissed from the second 
church were to form the seventh, and that Dr. Sharp 
was to preach on the occasion. Accordingly, on April 
the 5th, the North Baptist Church was formed. The 
account given of this service is so instructive, and indU 
cates so truly the christian feeling of the parties concern- 
ed, we shall quote it from The Christia?i Watchman, 

" Agreeably to a notice which appeared in our last, a 
new church was constituted in this city, on Sabbath 
evening, it being the seventh baptist church in Boston, 
to be known by the name of the North Baptist Church. 

" By letters missive from the second church to the 
several baptist churches in this city, and the churches in 
Charlestown, East Cambridge, and Cambridgeport, a 
council was convened to consider the expediency of this 
measure ; and after the usual examination, the council 
voted unanimously to recognize the brethren who had 
associated for the purpose, as an independent church, 
and proceeded to appoint brethren to perform the seiv 
vices. 

" The scriptures were read, and the introductory 
prayer offered by Rev. E. Thresher ; sermon by Rev, 
Dr. Sharp, from Heb. x. 24 — 'And let us consider one 
another, to provoke unto love and good works.' Prayer, 
previous to the recognition, by the Rev. Mr. Miller, pas- 
tor of the new church ; the right hand of fellowship, by 
the Rey. Mr. Stow, and the address to the church by 
Rev. Mr. Hague ; concluding prayer by the Rev. Mr, 
Collier. 

Ci The occasion was one of deep and affecting interest, 
The members who were recognized, were all dismissed 
from the seconcl church, being fifty-nine in number, 



396 CHURCHES IN BOSTON. 

They have made choice of three of their brethren as dea- 
cons, two of whom had previously served in the second 
church. Several members have already been dismissed 
from the other churches, with a view of uniting with 
this, 

" When the second church was constituted in 1743, 
ninety-two years since, it consisted of only six members. 
Since that period, four new churches, previously to the 
last, have been constituted in the city, and very many in 
the vicinity of the city •■ most of which were composed, 
m part, of members dismissed from the second church. 
Before its recent diminution, it consisted of 530. 

"It is a most gratifying and encouraging circum- 
stance, that this new church originated, not from strife 
and contention, but by mutual counsel, and in mutual 
good feeling ; in a perfect unanimity of judgment, be- 
tween the church and the members dismissed. 

" The church in Baldwin-place, it seems, were im- 
pressed with a conviction that it was not right for them 
to sit down at their ease and in contentment, while the 
world was full of ungodliness, and while sinners by 
thousands were perishing in sin, in their very midst. 
These brethren, therefore, went out, not because they 
desired to leave the church and their beloved pastor, but 
because the church and their pastor desired them to go,, 
believing them to be suitable persons to commence such 
an enterprise. They have a commodious house of wor- 
ship in Hanover Avenue, and the Rev. Mr. Miller, late 
of Wenham, for their minister. Commencing under 
such circumstances, who can doubt their prosperity? 
May the little one become a thousand ! n 

We were grieved to hear that the coloured baptist 
church was so much distracted and unsettled j serious 



CHURCHES IN BOSTON. 397 

thoughts were entertained of advising its dissolution, that 
the members might scatter themselves among the sister 
churches. 

It is difficult to decide, to which religious community 
the recent growth of orthodox opinions is most to be at- 
tributed, or who preserved truth, if ever it were really en- 
dangered. It was not an honour conferred by Him who 
is " the Truth," upon one body exclusively, but some 
of all parties remained faithful amidst general defection.. 

Without incurring the charge of sectarianism, we may 
be permitted to express our gratification, on discovering 
that the congregational cause in Boston originated with 
the baptists. Their first church, which at present en- 
joys the ministry of our excellent brother Hague, too, 
was formerly under the pastoral care of Dr. Stillman, 
and was the nursery of that body of people who consti- 
tuted the Park-street church. Some large donations 
were given by them, and a great proportion of the whole 
expense attending the erection of that important edifice 
was contributed by the baptists. 

If we were so highly gratified with our intercoure with 
the churches within the city,, we were not less so with 
those in the neighbourhood. The churches at Cam-., 
bridge and Brookline, as well as others, are prosperous ;; 
and our friend and countryman, Mr. Warne, enjoys 
much encouragement in the delightful village which is. 
the scene of his labours. The church at Charlestown, 
under the pastoral care of Mr. Jackson, contains more 
than 300 members, and the first Cambridge church, 
under Mr. Lovell, between 200 and 300. The small 
church at Roxbury has encouraging prospects. This 
place is distinguished as the residence of Eliot, a name 
which seemed to consecrate the spot. We looked with 
34* 



398 CHURCHES IN BOSTON. 

eager gaze and delighted retrospection upon the scene 
of his pious, self-denying, and long-continued exertions. 
Within about twenty miles of Boston there are twenty- 
seven regularly-educated ministers of the baptist deno- 
mination, besides many others who have not enjoyed 
the advantage of early or collegiate instruction. 



399 



CHAPTER XII. 



DR. COX'S TOUR FROM BOSTON, THROUGH PLYMOUTH 
AND NEWPORT, TO PROVIDENCE. 



Once more I parted from my colleague at Boston, on 
the 28th of August, in order to perform a circuitous route 
through Plymouth and Newport to Providence ; at which 
latter place we were engaged to attend the university 
commencement. 

For some miles we seemed unable to disentangle our- 
selves from the salt marshes and sinuosities of the sea 
shore. The residence of John Q,uincy Adams is seen 
in a low but pretty situation, between Boston and the 
scattered village of Hingham. The road at this place 
separates the baptist and unitarian churches, which 
stand on their respective heights in exact and ominous 
opposition. 

It will convey some idea of the character of the peo- 
ple to mention, that on one occasion when we stopped to 
change horses, a number of the passengers hastened 
sans ceremonie into a neighbouring orchard, and pick- 
ed up or gathered some beautiful yellow apples, called 
" high tops." I said to a looker-on, who had something 
of the air of the proprietor, " In this land of liberty every 
one seems free to do as he pleases, and help himself." 
" O yes, sir," he answered with great nonchalance^ 
" pretty much so." In two minutes afterwards we pass- 
ed a school-house, whose merry little inmates were just 



400 PLYMOUTH. 

rushing forth from their morning labours, and without 
any hesitation began to pelt the apple trees, and like 
their elders, " help themselves " in unmolested and fear- 
less security. 

Within the last ten miles of Plymouth the land is 
sandy, and partly covered with the spruce fir. On ap- 
proaching the hamlet of Kingston, five miles distant, a 
baptist church of some magnificence is seen half erected. 
Reflections and anticipations now began to crowd upon 
the mind, and I willingly permitted imagination to re- 
gard some of the thickets of the yet unfallen forest as 
the chosen oratories of the persecuted, in their first explo- 
ratory wanderings over these dreary solitudes. The 
weather was unfavourable, but I determined to retain 
my outside place, in order to survey the entire and inte- 
resting locality. Here and there a fragment of rock 
protruded above the sand, w r hich I fancied might have 
been to our pilgrim fathers an altar of prayer or a place 
of tears ! It w T as no mean assistance to the busy 
thoughts as we approached the place of destination, to 
observe a solitary ship lying between two points of land, 
and precisely where, in all probability, the pilgrim vessel 
anchored 215 years ago. I felt as if the ages had rolled 
back, and the pen of time was engaged in recording a 
present transaction. 

Plymouth is not very dissimilar in its aspect to the 
veritable Plymouth of Old England. We passed the 
Pilgrim Hall to the hotel termed the Pilgrim House, 
opposite to which some of the grave-stones in the bury- 
ing-ground are visible on the heights. While partaking 
of the bounties of Providence at a well-spread table, I 
could not but reflect on the hard fare and many sorrows 
of our expatriated forefathers. I was much interested 



PILGRIM HALL. 401 

in Dr. Thacker, whose whole heart is in the pilgrim 
story, and whose ever-fluent tongue ceases not to tell it. 
In fact, he seems like a spider (may he pardon the allu- 
sion !) who has woven all the circmstances round him, 
and lives in the centre of his delightful entanglement. 
To him, at an extreme old age, the Pilgrim Hall and 
the Pilgrim burial-ground are every thing — the sphere 
of his existence. It is a glorious piece of enthusiasm ! 

The rock I visited alone ; the other two places in 
company with Dr. Thacker and Mr. Cushman, the 
baptist minister. The former has nothing in itself to 
interest, being, in fact, scarcely visible, and trampled 
every hour by the feet of busy tribes of goers and comers 
to the wharves that have no history in them ; but its 
associations, which give "tongues to trees," and to 
stones too, make it a place of mysterious musings and 
whisperings. 

It may be asked, Is there any thing in the Pilgrim 
Hall to interest ? Nothing, or every thing, just as the 
taste is of the individual who visits. There are sundry 
old remains — cups, dishes, broken rings, &c. ; but then 
they are memorials of other days. I minuted down, 
among others, a pewter dish belonging to Captain Miles 
Standish, who went over in the May Flower, in 1620 ; 
a Chinese mug, the property of the mate, and another, 
once owned by Mr. Clark ; a piece of the chest of Gene- 
ral Edward Winslow, and the armed chair itself which 
belonged to Governor Carver, who came in the first ship, 
and the cane of William White, whose son, Peregrine 
White, was the first English child born in America. 
There also I was shown King Philip's cap, the celebrated 
Indian chief; and best of all, the bible of the good, the 
holy, the sainted Eliot ! 



402 BURIAL-GROUND. 

The first debarkation of the pilgrim fathers was on 
Clark's Island, which is seen across the bay from the 
window of the Pilgrim Hall. A large mass of the rock 
of landing, detached for the purpose, has been deposited 
in front of this building. It is inclosed in an iron fence, 
which consists of palisades or rails in the shape of boat 
hooks and harpoons, arranged alternately, with scollop 
shells and heraldic curtains, inscribed with the forty-one 
names of the persons who first landed. The fragment 
of rock itself is marked with the date 1620. 

The site of the burial-ground is fine, on an elevation 
that overlooks the town and bay. The memorials are 
all plain stones, now obscured by time, and sinking 
away. Death is deeply impressed on the whole scene. 
The very trees which had been recently planted to throw 
some vendure and beauty over the place, are dead, as if 
in sympathy. The adornments of nature, in such a 
place of silence and of sepulchre, are thought by many 
to be incompatible with its character ; but why should 
not we proclaim in this manner a kind of triumph over 
the "last enemy," since the "Captain of salvation" has 
achieved it on our behalf? Why should not the beauties of 
vegetative life be made to appear, that amidst its buddings 
and blossomings, we may be reminded of those trees of 
immortal growth which are "on either side the river" of 
the visioned paradise of the Apocalypse, and thus be 
encouraged to sing, " O grave, where is thy victory !" 

The evening was spent at the house of Dr. Thacker, 
where, in a family and friendly party, I met Colonel Bul- 
lock from the south, with whom and his lady, I after- 
wards travelled. We had much conversation on the 
state of Georgia, where he resides as an influential magis- 
trate. Notwithstanding the degraded condition of the 



COL. BULLOCK. 403 

slaves, and the frequent cruelties to which they are ex* 
posed by inhuman task-masters, it is cheering to know 
that even there, in many instances, their circumstances 
are alleviated by good usage and missionary instruction. 
To record this is only an act of justice ; unquestionably 
it alters not the character of the inhumanity that doomed 
them to bondage, or the unscriptural principle of slavery 
itself. 

In travelling from Plymouth to Rhode Island, I was 1 
able for some time to catch occasional glimpses of the ele- 
vated burial-ground of the pilgrims, and at the last view 
from the top of the coach, I could scarcely refrain from 
exclaiming, " Repose, sacred dust, in that quiet sleeping- 
place, till a morning more bright and beautiful than 
even this, shall shed its glories over your happier destiny ! " 

Without stopping to record any thing of the beautiful 
town of Taunton, with its good farm-houses and richly- 
cultivated farms, or of Middleborough Green, whose 
church and grave-yard, encircled with a fine countiy, are 
so attractive, at least for the contemplative philosopher, or 
of Fall River, or of Mount Hope, the former residence of 
King Philip, I will introduce the reader at once to New- 
port, Rhode Island ; and even here, the necessity of con- 
densation compels me to a very brief notice of places and 
pursuits. In the morning and afternoon of the 30th, I 
preached for Mr. Dowling at the baptist church ; in the 
evening for Mr. Dumont, at the presbyterian ; both are 
in a prosperous state. The audiences were very nume- 
rous, and highly respectable. The people connected with 
the former had just completed a new and spacious edifice 
at the time of my visit, which, in the New England 
phrase, was "dedicated" a few days afterwards. An 
important revival of religion was experienced at Newport, 



404 Newport. 

in 1834. Previously to that period, Mr. Dowliiig's 
chitrch, then under the care of Mr. Choules, consisted of 
332 members ; then there were seventy added, and at 
the same time several other churches experienced similar 
manifestations of mercy. Upwards of 100 converts were 
distributed among four churches, the episcopal, the 
methodist, and the first and fourth baptist. "I am 
happy to say" — these are the words of Mr. Dowling — 
" that the genuineness of this revival is evidenced by a 
willingness to engage in works of benevolence and 
mercy, not only among those who have recently united 
with us, but also among those who have long been 
members. We have formed, within the present month 
(November) an Auxiliary Foreign Missionary Society, 
in connexion with our congregation ; and have resolved, 
ds a beginning, to raise, in the ensuing )"ear, at least 
enough to support one native Burman preacher. 

The church of Mr. Dowling at Newport belongs to 
the Warren Association, formed in the place from which 
it derives its name, in 1 767. From its commencement 
it has been a nourishing association, and has contained 
ministers of eminence in the baptist denomination. At 
first only four churches associated, but at present there 
are twenty-seven ; and a spiritual fertility spreads over 
their whole surface. 

At the house of my friend Dr. Dunn, and at some 
others, I had an opportunity of appreciating the society 
of Rhode Island, which still exhibits the piety and the 
principle of its original founders, the stern supporters of 
of a nation's civil and religious freedom. Among objects 
of general interest, it was gratifying to see the Franklin 
press, preserved at the office of the Newport Mercury. 
The handle which he had himself worked, and the 



NEWPORT. 405 

tympan on which the sheet is placed, are still preserved. 
In the episcopalian church is the organ presented by 
Bishop Berkeley. It was originally sent to a town in Mas- 
sachusetts called after his name as an acknowledgment 
for the compliment, but the puritan feeling of the day 
rejected it. At length this church obtained it at the 
request of the people. The date is inscribed A. D. 1733, 
with the addition on the front of the gallery, " The gift 
of Dr. George Berkeley, late Lord Bishop of Cloyne." 
The Masonic lodge is now closed ; all in the state hav- 
ing given up their charters, and are no longer incorpo- 
rated. We passed by what had been the Moravian 
church, but it is now converted into a school-room of the 
episcopal church. At the Redwood library, founded long 
before the American revolution, in 1737, I saw a black- 
letter Bible, beautifully illuminated, and printed at Ve- 
nice, in 1487. I also visited in company with Dr. Dunn 
his father's tomb. He was a man of genius, and splen- 
did in his occasional ministrations as a preacher. He 
was driven from England in evil times, when party 
raged so violently at the beginning of the French revo- 
lution. In America he pursued commerce with great 
success. The prayer uttered just before his death, and 
copied on his tomb, is characteristic of him. " O God, 
we find thee not the Roman Thunderer, but the bene- 
volent parent of good, embodied in human nature ! As- 
sist us this day, amidst the agonies of expiring nature, 
which, with the dissolution of the universe, form part of 
thy wise succession of events ! Save us from the death 
of sin ! Teach us to say, Thy will be done !" 

On visiting Mr. Yernon, I found in domestic combina- 
tion, religion, elegance, and opulence. Among some 
fine paintings in one of the rooms by original masters, 
35 



406 CHANNING. 

was one, u the dying Socrates/' by Vandyke. Mrs, V, 
remarked with equal piety and discrimination as we 
gazed at it, " Oh, air, he does not, after all, look as if he 
felt that holy triumph over death which you described in 
the sermon of last evening. Then, indeed, did death 
seem divested of its terrors ! " 

I must not stay to describe the house which we saw 
whence General Prescott was so dexterously and ludic- 
rously abstracted in the revolutionary war, though the 
British fleet was lying at anchor in Narraganset Bay. 
The party wound their way up a deep dell which ap- 
proaches the house. On this bay, about six miles from 
Newport, are some of the remarkable stones which have 
lately been found in Rhode Island, whose curious and 
questionable marks are deemed by some antiquarians to 
represent Phoenician characters. I shall omit my opinion 
founded on inspection, and leave it to that learned fra- 
ternity to publish theirs. 

We reached the summer retreat of Dr. Channing as 
the sun was setting gloriously ; and hastened from the 
resplendence of mere matter to the coruscations of 
mind. That eminent individual welcomed Dr. Dunn 
and me with unassuming simplicity of manners. At the 
table of a man whose fame had crossed the Atlantic, 
and must live in history, we found every thing to prove 
that the domestic and personal virtues lived in happy 
rivalry with the literary powers. If the one elevated the 
man, the other adorned the father and the friend. Dr. 
Channing is unassuming ; in a degree, too, it may be 
said, unimposing. Himself does not seem a living edi- 
tion of his works. In this he differs from my late 
friend, Robert Hall, whose private life and conversation 
was a continual reflection, more or less vivid, according 



CHANNING. 407 

to circumstances, of his extraordinary writings. He, too, 
was unassuming, but he appeared, as well as was, the 
great man. Eccentric, witty in conversation, and when 
consulted on a particular point of doctrine or practical 
conduct, full of argumentative subtlety and just discri- 
mination. These men agree in the superiority, not in 
the mode of their talents, either in private or public. In 
private, Dr. Channing is cairn, collected, sensible, and 
agreeable. Mr. Hall was rapid and chaste in diction, often 
impassioned, and not unfrequently inconsiderate in his 
remarks on persons or performances, and tenacious, 
sometimes playfully, of curious or unimportant theories, 
hastily adopted, and to be soon abandoned. In public, 
Dr. Channing, as a preacher with a unitarian creed, is 
deliberate, acute in argument, interesting in manner, 
delivering or reading well-arranged compositions; Mr. 
Hall was, with an orthodox doctrine, somewhat indistinct 
and hesitating in his utterance, having no elegance of 
manner, but vivid, ardent, inconceivably fertile in ex- 
temporaneous thought, and at once convincing, brilliant, 
and impressive ; for ever hovering between the pathetic 
and sublime. 



408 



CHAPTER XIII. 

COMMENCEMENT OF BROWN UNIVERSITY. COURSE 

OF STUDY. JOYCE HETH. ROGER WILLIAMS'S 

PLACE OF LANDING. WORCESTER ASSOCIATION. 

CAMP-MEETING. SPRINFIELD. — HARTFORD AND 

THE ASSOCIATION. NORTHAMPTON. ALBANY, & 

PASSAGE DOWN THE HUDSON. FINAL VISIT TO 

NEW YORK. 

Our respective routes from Boston converged once 
more into a point at Providence, whither we repaired to 
uttend the commencement of Brown University. This 
institution derives its title from the Hon. Nicholas Brown, 
whose unparalleled munificence has conferred upon the 
state of Rhode Island, and upon his country, as well as 
upon the baptist denomination, benefits which will trans- 
mit his name to a distant posterity. 

In this new country, the university may be styled 
ancient, though it has not yet completed one century 
of its existence. It originated at Warren, in 1764, as 
"the college or university of Rhode Island and 
Providence Plantations" and was removed to Provi- 
dence in 1770. 

This was an appropriate situation for the university, 
the charter obtained for it being in admirable keeping 
with the constitution of the state of which Roger 
Williams was the distinguished founder. Providence 
was the spot where Williams landed, to whose memory 



ROGER WILLIAMS. 409 

the following tribute was paid by the Hon. Francis 
Baylis in the house of representatives. 

" Roger Williams was one of the most extraordinary 
men of the age ; and when we consider his liberality at 
that period, we cannot but regard him as almost a pro- 
digy. He contended that church and state were sepa- 
rate, and that the land could not be lawfully taken from 
the Indians without their consent. These were alarm- 
ing doctrines for those times. He was summoned before 
synods, and threatened with excommunication, but he 
stood firmly to the faith ; and after repeated trials and 
persecutions he was banished as a pest in society, and an 
officer was despatched to put him on board a vessel and 
send him to England. He was warned of his danger, 
and rising from his sick-bed, fled and built his wig- warn 
within the jurisdiction of Plymouth colony. But Massa- 
chusetts demanded that he should be delivered up, and 
Governor Winslow, not having sufficient firmness to 
protect him, secretly advised Williams to leave the juris- 
diction of Plymouth. He threw himself into a canoe 
with his companions, floated down the stream, rounded 
the point of Tockwotton, proceeded up the river, and 
landed in the cove, and there he chose his place of 
rest. ' The world was all before him, and Providence 
his guide.' He landed at a spring, he found earth and 
water, and in gratitude to Heaven, he called the place 
Providence, and there he founded his little common- 
wealth. No cross was reared, no standard was planted, 
no monument was erected, no coins were buried, and 
not even a record was made, for these wanderers were 
destitute of paper and books. And this was the spot on 
which one of the most thriving cities of the United States 
now stands. It was here the true principles of toleration 
35* 



410 SHOWN UNIVERSITY. 

were planted, and have since nourished. The Indians 
had no such quality as intolerance among them, and 
with them Williams was free to enjoy his own opinions 
unmolested. 

The charter of the university provides, that " all the 
members of this institution shall for ever enjoy full, free, 
absolute, and uninterrupted liberty of conscience ; and 
the places of professors, tutors, and all other officers (the 
president excepted), shall be free and open for all de- 
nominations of protestants." The president must be a 
baptist. The name of . " Rhode Island College," was 
changed to that of " Brown University," in 1804. It 
consisted of one spacious l^rick building, called " Uni- 
versity Hall ; " but within the last few years, Mr. Brown 
has erected, at his own expense, a brick edifice to cor- 
respond, though rather superior in architectural appear- 
ance. It is eighty-six feet long, and forty-two wide ; 
and is called Hope College. This was no sooner 
completed, than the same benevolent gentleman deter- 
mined on erecting in the space between the two colleges, 
' a chaste and elegant Doric structure, called Manning 
Hail. The basement story is intended for the university 
library, over which a spacious chapel is fitted up. Both 
rooms are remarkable for simplicity of design and beauty 
of finish, corresponding with the handsome portico. The 
colleges are now faced with cement, to resemble the 
granite of the centre hall ; and when the grounds are 
properly planted, and the president's house removed into 
another situation, the whole will assume an imposing 
aspect. 

The university is in possession of a good philosophi- 
cal apparatus and a respectable library. A fund is pro- 
vided of $20,000) the proceeds of which are to be annu- 



BROWN UNIVERSITY. 411 

ally appropriated to these objects. The beneficent indi- 
vidual already named, contributed no less than $10,000, 
of this amount. Dr. Francis Wayland is the distin- 
guished president, who, with six other professors and 
three tutors, constitute a most effective faculty. 

Under these advantageous circumstances, we were 
not surprised to discover the deep interest taken in the 
commencement; or to ascertain that the prospects of 
this seat of learning were in the highest degree encour- 
aging. There were at this time seventy candidates for 
admission, who were undergoing a scrutinizing exami- 
nation, and it was thought more than sixty would ma- 
triculate. 

On Wednesday, September the 2d, two literary socie- 
ties held their anniversaries. J. Lincoln, Esq. delivered 
the oration to the Philhermenian Society on " The In- 
fluence of Men of Literature." This was an excel- 
lent discussion, appropriate to the times, and calculated 
to direct the youthful mind at this season of great public 
excitement. In addressing "The United Brothers," 
Professor Hopkins, of Williams College, displayed great 
originality of thought, and felicity of expression, in 
an oration on " Originality of Thought and Cha- 
racter." In this masterly performance, the profoundest 
homage of the human intellect to the authority of di- 
vine revelation, was well contrasted with a flippant and 
conceited infidelity, whose abettors were shown to be 
mistaken in arrogating to themselves claims to indepen- 
dence and originality, because they rejected divine reve- 
lation. 

The question of union between these societies, instead 
of maintaining the two in one college, was agitated, and 
members of both are brought into fraternal relation in a 



412 BROWN UNIVERSITY. 

third, whose anniversary was celebrated in the evening ; 
it is of a religious character, a college missionary society. 
Our valued friend, the Rev. Mr. Pattison, delivered a dis- 
course on u The Importance of Learning to Mission- 
aries."" Felicitous illustrations presented themselves in 
the history of our own missions, and there was great 
pathos in some of his appeals to the students of the 
university, suggested by the consideration that Brown 
had not yet supplied its fair quota of labourers for that 
holy work. 

A chaplain, as well as an orator, is selected in these 
anniversaries to conduct the devotion of the meetings, 
thus judiciously associating religion and literature. 

At this commencement, the corporation elected two 
new members on the board of fellows, and three on the 
board of trustees. Several degrees in literature and 
divinity were conferred in the usual manner. With 
regard to the Baccalaureate, the same difficulties were 
encountered as at some other universities. A number 
of young men entertained scruples respecting the custom- 
ary interference of the tutors, in assigning the parts to be 
taken, and the order of appearance in the public exhibi- 
tion of commencement day. Strangers could not 
thoroughly understand the bearing of this question. 
The young men asserted that with them it was matter 
of conscience, and stated that by arranging among 
themselves, all suspicion of favouritism would be avoided. 
It must be admitted their deportment and language were 
respectful, and the expedient they had recourse to, was 
simply that of foregoing their honours, by entering their 
names for what is called "the partial course," as if they 
had not pursued the studies which had really occupied 
them. On the other hand, the tutors as conscientiously 



BROWN UNIVERSITY. 413 

maintained their dignity, and magnified their office : 
deeming it but right, after having guided the studies 
and watched the progress and character of their pupils, 
that they should arrange for the public day, though it 
would necessarily be considered a little invidious, if so 
construed. Many enlightened friends stood by, with 
the kindest and most respectful regard for their young 
friends, but apparently glad to see the reins of the 
chariot in the experienced hands of Phoebus, rather than 
that an experiment should be tried under the less steady 
guidance of youth. The result was, that only three 
out of a large class of twenty-four, aspired to the cus- 
tomary honours, because they objected to the system on 
which they were conferred. As these young men de- 
clined to take the parts assigned them in the public 
exhibition, there were but few speakers. 

For the purposes of the exhibition, and the public 
business of the commencement, a platform was erected 
in the first baptist church. This structure is a wooden 
fabric, but of such admirable architecture, that it is said 
there is not a spire in the United States surpassing it in 
beauty or in strength. The interior of this noble edifice 
is spacious. The galleries and roof are supported by 
richly-reeded pillars and arches springing to the lofty 
ceiling. It is ninety-six feet long and eighty broad ; 
the spire is remarkably high. 

The processions were formed in the college grounds, in 
the arrangement of which, the master of the ceremo- 
nies read over the style and title of the first men in the 
state, of whom several were present, to take their ap- 
pointed stations. In some instances, the plain republi- 
can appearance, gave to the whole an air of simplicity, 
which appeared to us in striking contrast with the 



414 BROWN UNIVERSITY. 

splendid exhibitions at Oxford and Cambridge. The 
effect was fine, as those who followed last looked down 
the long line of the procession, winding down the steep 
hill, and between the rows of over-shadowing elms, that 
extend from the university to the town. On this day, 
the professors alone wore gowns ; excepting that a few 
kept for the occasion, were transferred from one speaker 
to another, as the young men ascended to the plat- 
form. 

There were at least 3000 persons crowded into this 
magnificent church. The galleries, and part of the 
body were reserved for ladies ; the rest was devoted to 
those who composed the procession. In approaching 
the place of meeting, the highest in honour walks last, 
but on arriving there, the students who lead in the pos- 
session, two and two divide, and face about, so as to 
arrange themselves in rank, forming a passage, through 
which the president, together with the professors and 
visitors walk in succession uncovered. Each couple 
closing immediately after those who have passed, the 
order of march is reversed, so that the highest in honour 
enters first. Dr. Wayland soon occupied his presiden- 
tial chair, and the vast assembly being hushed to silence, 
prayer was offered, and the business proceeded. The 
rich-toned organ relieved the otherwise uninterrupted 
attention to the business of the day, by occasionally pour- 
ing forth its melody. Five orations having been made, 
the degrees were conferred. Certificates were presented 
to such students as graduated, with the customary Latin 
form of announcement ; but honorary degrees are sim- 
ply proclaimed by the president as he sits uncovered. 
A sumptuous banquet was spread in the dining hall of 
the university, but so great was the concourse, the tables 



BROWN UNIVERSITY. 415 

were filled by several successive companies of occupants. 
American despatch on such occasions, greatly facilitates 
the arrangements. The Phi Beta Kappa Society was to 
assemble in the afternoon. This appellation is taken 
from the initial letters of three Greek words, which de- 
signate a widely-extended fraternity, of which numer- 
ous branches hold their respective anniversaries. Pro- 
\fessor Craswell, who teaches mathematics and natural 
philosophy in Brown University, read an appropriate 
essay on the importance of his own particular depart- 
ment in a liberal education. In exhibiting and illus- 
trating this he displayed the talents and qualifications 
requisite for his professional duties in the exact sciences. 
He was succeeded by Professor Knowles, from Newton 
Theological Seminary, who produced an original poem 
on peace, of no ordinary merit. In the evening, a re- 
ligious service was attended by an audience equally 
large and respectable with that which frequented the 
church in the morning ; when the English visitors were 
engaged to conduct it. Dr. Cox preached on the 
occasion. 

We have thus described these proceedings with some 
minuteness, because this is the oldest and principal of the 
literary institutions in our denomination. The acces- 
sions this commencement would no doubt raise the num- 
ber of the students in the present year, to considerably 
more than 200. 

Parents and religious youth are attracted to Brown 
University, not only by the celebrity of its president, as a 
tutor and author, but by his unwearied devotedness to the 
spiritual interests of the youth under his paternal guidance, 
many of whom form a bible class under his immediate 
instruction. In his own department, as Professor of 



416 PROVIDENCE. 

Moral Philosopy, Dr. Wayland has evinced the originali- 
ty of his master mind, in a work on the " Elements of 
Moral Science." which is rapidly coming into use as the 
text-book of colleges. In addition to the university, there 
are in Providence and the vicinity, five classical schools 
taught by gentlemen belonging to the baptist denomina- 
tion. The Quakers have also a noble literary establish- 
ment. 

Providence is a large and thriving town. Manufac- 
tures are carried on to a great extent, and many affluent 
individuals reside in the neighbourhood. The intelli- 
gence and polished manners of society in general, enhanc- 
ed the pleasure of our visit. We enjoyed besides the 
privilege of meeting friends from the south on their sum- 
mer excursions. 

Some statements we received, were not calculated to 
give any favourable impressions respecting the designs of 
many of the southern people on the subject of slavery. 
There is too often a suspicious sentimentalism in refer- 
ence to obedience to the laws of state legislatures, as if that 
were an authority paramount to the laws of God ! Or, as 
if enactments of legislators, prohibiting instruction or pre- 
venting manumission, could relieve conscience from the 
obligation of doing, not merely to a fellow-creature, but to 
a fellow-christian " as he would be done unto." What 
arrogance must it be in the sight of God, for one, who pro- 
fesses to prize as his greatest treasure the book of God, to 
take away the key of the knowledge of it from another, 
who has an equal proprietorship in all its truths and pro- 
mises, and who needs much more the 'patience and 
comfort of the scriptures," that he " may have hope." It 
is painful to converse on these points with the most coarse 
and determined tyrant, who in defiance of every appeal, 



JOYCE HETH. 417 

grasps his fellow-creafure as his property, and will tear 
him limb from limb, rather than part with his prey : but 
it is far more humiliating and agonizing, to hear a defence 
or palliation of the system, breathed from the lips of 
woman, or maintained by some youthful candidate for the 
holy ministry of love ! 

Slavery presented itself to our view in one of the most 
extraordinary and offensive forms of which it is possible to 
conceive, while we were in this city. The name of Wash- 
ington, the father of his country, is revered by every patriot 
of every land. Our politicians, and even our princes and 
captains, may have quailed before his surprising genius ; 
but his memory is enshrined in the hearts of the wise and 
the good in both hemispheres. We had visited the sanc- 
tuary of his home, wandered amidst the decays of his 
domain, and paid our homage to his worth before his 
unaspiring tomb. We here saw, still living, the very 
woman who nursed his infancy ; and she has worn the 
chain and badge of slavery from that hour to the present 
time ! Britons blushed for America^ and were oppressed 
with a sickness of the very heart, to think that for more 
than a hundred years after the infant hero had been pil- 
lowed in the bosom of this stranger, Joyce Heth should 
have remained a slave. We were ready to ask, when we 
visited her, where are the sensibilities of a people who can 
tolerate so gross an outrage upon every soft and holy feel- 
ing, as to allow this living mummy, this breathing corpse, 
to be dragged through the country, exhibited to the idle 
gaze of strangers, and often exposed to the rude, offensive 
merriment of thoughtless youth ? This mysterious anti- 
quity, whose age we found to be 161 years, ought rather 
to have been cradled in silk^ and nursed, in her second 
infancy^ with all the tenderness with which she watched 
36 



418 



JOYCE HETH. 



over one of the greatest of men. I She was stolen from 
Madagascar, and was owned by the father of Washington 
t the time of his birth, It was evident that her person 
had been shamefully neglected, since she had sunk into 
the helplessness of an almost miraculous old age — her 
nails being suffered to grow till they bent, like birds' 
claws, and those of one clenched hand penetrated into her 
very flesh. She was left in the extremest destitution, and 
would have died in Kentucky, had it not occurred to some 
keen and shrewd calculator, that something might yet be 
made by exhuming, as it were, this living relic of a former 
age, to exhibit as a show ! During many months, she had 
been conveyed from place to place, as the last sands of 
life were thus running out ; and more had been gained 
than the sum for which Washington's father sold her in 
1727, when, as appears in the existing copy of the bill of 
sale, she was fifty-four years of age. 

It was often necessary for her to be addressed in the au- 
thoritative manner with which a slave is commanded, in 
order to rouse what remained of vital energy, so as to gra- 
tify the curious ; but, at other times, she spoke with viva- 
city. She has been the mother of fifteen children, but 
all have died before her, excepting two or three grand- 
children. 

This venerable slave is a baptist, was immersed in the 
Potomac, and received into a baptist church 116 years 
ago. She sings a few hymns, in a voice which brings 
Homer's grasshoppers to mind. She is often observed in 
prayer, and expresses herself, on a few essential points, 
with great clearness. The few sentences we heard, were 
in answer to our inquiries, at a time when she appeared 
greatly exhausted. She said she u wished to die, and go 
to heaven in that minute of time, but must wait God's 






CHURCHE& IN PROVIDENCE. 419 1 

pleasure, and dare not be impatient ;" expressed herself 
very clearly in reference to the blood of Christ as her only 
hope, declaring that " the happiness she felt was of the 
Lord, through faith in Jesus." In reply to some questions 
about her baptism, she said " it was in a river, and she 
was sure that it was the Potomac." 

While at Providence, we paid a visit to the spot where 
Roger Williams first landed. We approached the rock 
from the high ground, toward the town, which overlooks 
the retired cove. We were accompanied, in the excur-. 
sion, by our esteemed brother Pattison, the pastor of the 
church which Williams formed two centuries ago, in 
1639. At the perilous moment of Williams's landing, 
the shore was occupied by a party of Indians. Warned 
off from Rehoboth, the last place where they had taken 
refuge, by the men of Plymouth, because he maintained 
that " civil magistrates, as such, have no power in 
the church, and that christians, as such, are subject 
to no laws or control but those of King Jesus" during 
the winter of 1636, Williams and Olney, with their hired 
attendant, Thomas Angel, crossed the river in a canoe. 
Life or death seemed, under God, to depend upon the 
manner in which they were met by the Indians, who 
watched their approach, when the salutation from one of 
the savages, " What cheer ! " assured the outcasts of a 
friendly reception. To commemorate the goodness of 
God, who had thus guided and preserved them, they ulti- 
mately gave their settlement the name of " Providence." 

The venerable and excellent N. Brown, Esq. enter- 
tained a large party of friends, several of whom took 
leave of us on their return to Boston, under the affecting 
impression that we should meet them no more. 

We enjoyed one day of comparative retirement, at 



420 CHURCHES IN PROVIDENCE. 

least during the morning, but the labours of the sabbath 
were exhausting, however delightful it was to worship 
with our beloved friends. It was their sacramental sea- 
son, and we united in this festival with the churches of 
Mr. Pattison and Mr. Blane. The latter had in the 
morning administered the ordinance of baptism. Among 
the candidates, were twoor three coloured females, young, 
and of most respectable appearance. It was delightful 
to see them stand promiscuously with the others, all re- 
deemed with the same blood. 

The general state of religion is . better than at any 
former period. There are four baptist churches, under 
the pastors Pattison, Blane, Philipps, and Simonson. 
The first church, in 1831, added fifty-six; in 1832, 
thirty-six ; in 1833, twenty-six ; in 1834, forty-two. 
The present number is 534. This church was consti- 
tuted 196 years ago, and was the first baptist church 
established in America : the second was founded in 
Newport, about six years afterwards ; the third was the 
church at Swansea, Massachusetts. Mr. Philipps stated 
that he had been at Providence only seven years, and 
there was but one minister of the Warren Association, 
consisting of twenty-eight churches, that belonged to it 
when he joined ; a surprising proof of fluctuation of the 
ministry in America. The salaries range from $450 
to $1200 per annum, averaging about $600. 

"We left Providence, September 7th, and having again 
passed through Boston, bade once more farewell to many 
kind friends. 

Worcester is an improving town, very beautifully situ- 
ated. We regretted that we could not command suffi- 
cient leisure to visit a church of 383 members, which 
originated in the indefatigable exertions of an individual 



CAMP MEETING. 421 

now resident at Cincinnati. Mr. Wilson, an English- 
man from Northumberland, who no sooner settled at 
Worcester in 1795, than he opened his house for preach-. 
ing, and amidst violent opposition persevered, tilr at 
length in May, 1812, some converts were baptized on a 
profession of their faith, which was the first instance of 
the administration of the ordinance in that town. The 
hospitality, benevolence, and laborious efforts of Deacon 
Wilson, are still held in grateful remembrance. Some 
of our churches in this neighbourhood are large; they 
are improved and improving, both in scriptural doctrine, 
and the tone of piety, while considerable accessions have 
been made during periods of revival. Twenty churches 
are in the Worcester Association, which support more 
than that number of schools, and many, both of the 
teachers and scholars, have made a profession of religion. 
From Brookfield we proceeded the following morn- 
ing to a methodist camp meeting, held at Wilbraham, 
twenty miles distant. We had determined on this 
course, as we had been precluded from an attendance at the> 
Northern Neck and Salem Union cam p meetings of our de- 
nomination in Virginia. Our friend Mr. Taylor, who at- 
tended the first camp meeting at the Northern Neck, and 
had watched its progress from year to year, since 1831, 
told us, it appeared at first so doubtful an expedient, that 
they were in long suspense before they arrived at the de- 
termination to hold it. It was not decided till after a 
special meeting for prayer, when they had recourse to 
casting lots ; and, even then, many of the pastors felt 
averse, though all united. Great floods of rain com- 
pelled them to gather into forty different houses, where 
they held four meetings each day. Many were, at tl at 
time, brought under concern, and seventy-five converts 
36* 



422 CAMP MEETING, 

joined the churches, who proved to be some of the most 
intelligent, influential^ and pious of their members. 
Hence that meeting has been resumed annually. 

Whether these meetings are most useful in awakening 
the inconsiderate and irreligious, in deciding the hesitat- 
ing, or in quickening or reclaiming professed christians, 
it may be difficult to decide ; but the evidence is unequi- 
vocal, that in many instances much good results from 
them to the churches, and to the cause of religion gene- 
rally. That such encampments in the wilderness, are 
specially, and almost exclusively, adapted to a recently- 
settled country, there can be no doubt ; where they are 
resorted to in older and populous districts, it may be ex- 
pected that they will partake more of pleasurable gaiety, 
and accordingly be frequented for mere amusement. 
We shall not describe the scene further than by saying, 
the space cleared just in the borders of the forest, was an 
area where 700 or 800 persons might be seated on the 
rough logs arranged opposite the stand ; while thousands 
might occupy standing room beyond the seats. A broad 
aisle separated the hewn logs into two divisions ; one 
for females, the other for men : a line was drawn from 
the aisle to the camps, and at dusk no male was allow- 
ed to pass beyond it, if inclined to saunter about the 
ground. At the commencement of the services, a minis- 
ter announced the regulations it had been thought pro- 
per to adopt, such as — the ground was for the time 
theirs ; no smoking to be allowed ; no walking about 
while there was preaching ; lights to be kept burning in 
each tent during the night ; superintendents to be ap- 
pointed ; family prayer recommended ; all to repair 
to general worship at the sound of the trumpet ; all per- 
sons not having tents to retire from the ground at ten at 



CAMP MEETING. 423 

night. The tents, of which there were fifty or sixty, 
formed a complete circle round the area, and at so great 
a distance, as to be generally beyond the sound of an ordi- 
nary voice, either in prayer or preaching. Hence no 
justifiable excuse for remaining within them could be 
given, and the rules were, that all persons should leave 
them and approach the stand, at the sound of the horn. 
A sufficient number of trees remained both for shade 
and the suspension of lights, the forest thickening as you 
receded tkward the tents, and quite concealing the most 
distant of them from view. We were several hours on 
the ground, but were unable to stay through the night. 
The sermons and addresses which we heard were of 
rather a common -place character. A vacant space be- 
fore the stand was left for purposes similar to that of the 
anxious seat, and after the services at noon, we witnessed 
a scene there, not in harmony with our feelings or judg- 
ment. Repeated proclamations were made for different 
classes to enter this spot, round which some hundreds 
stood, forming a ring that was duly preserved by per- 
sons in office. 

First, anxious souls wishing for conversion were in- 
vited ; the minister at the same time narrating what 
wonders he had witnessed. A few females responded to 
this summons ; fell on their knees, and crowded togeth- 
er on the grass in an indecorous manner. 

Proclamation was then made for backsliders to join 
the prostrate few, and another hymn was sung, their num- 
bers being gradually increased to about twenty. A third 
address was made to young men, as none but females 
had entered the ring ; this appeal was unavailing, ex- 
cept in two or three instances. The leaders now ad- 
vanced, knelt down, and one after another offered pray- 



424 CAMP MEETING. 

er : the manager during this time approaching on his 
knees nearer to the penitents, said, somewhat sternly, 
and loud enough to be heard by the surrounding circle : 
" Pray for yourselves," — " Every one of you pray," — 
" Pray in faith," — " Only believe," — " Pray." Strange 
and unmeaning expressions were heard during the 
prayers, as " Glory to God," — " Have love," — " Let them 
know it for themselves;" &c. After a while all rose and 
sung ; then one exclaimed, " Let us pray again ;'" when 
all fell prostrate. During this prayer, the people with- 
drew from the ring, and at the close of it, all dispersed 
to the tents or into the forest very unceremoniously.. 
The voice of crying, singing, and praying, soon attract- 
ed our attention, as we moved about in astonishment at 
some of the scenes we had witnessed. We passed from 
tent to tent, whence these sounds proceeded, and soon 
after observed the most violent indications of excitement. 
Many of the prayers were affecting, and on one or two 
occasions, females under the influence of the deepest 
emotions, commenced penitential supplications, mingling 
aloud many confessions of a vain and worldly course of 
life. Notwithstanding an occasional gush of feeling, 
suffusing the eyes with tears, and almost overpowering 
reason, there was much to produce extreme disapproba- 
tion, bordering even upon disgust. In the pens or in- 
cisures on one side of a tent, and crouched on the straw 
which seemed intended for bedding, were at least fifty 
females, young and old, crowded together, and doubled 
into every conceivable attitude ; while one stretched like 
a corpse, and as motionless, lay prostrate before a party 
of six or eight men kneeling, who prayed alternately. 
Many more were standing around, leaning on the ropes, 
and some proceeding with their ordinary preparations* 



CAMP MEETING. 425 

on first arriving on the ground, or receiving friends. 
Amidst the prayers, it was ever and anon vociferated, 
"Bless me, O God, 7 '— "Oh do, do,"— "God is coming,' 1 
— " God is come," — " We must have these souls convert- 
ed,"—" To-day— to-day,"— " Good peace of God,"— 
"Now, Lord," &c. &c. Exclamations of the ceaseless 
" Glory ! glory ! glory ! glory be to God ! glory to Christ ! 
glory ! " were disturbing and bewildering ; while clap- 
ping, rubbing, and wringing the hands, exceeded all de- 
scription. No attempt was made to recover the woman 
in a swoon during our stay, and we were subsequently 
informed that many others were affected in unaccounta- 
ble ways, of which medical men could give no rational 
account, but out of which condition they were at length 
awakened to a state of hope and joy and peace. 

It was occasionally proclaimed, " If any of you feel 
that God has blessed your souls, rise." Occasionally 
one and another thus summoned, would stand up and 
cry, " Glory, glory ! " and move away with a smile on 
the countenance of most remarkable expression. The 
people continued to pour into the camp -ground, arriving 
in every variety of carriage ; and when the assembly 
was most numerous, 4000 or 5000 were supposed to 
have been present. It is impossible without beholding 
this scene to form an adequate conception of it. 

The moon rose as we left this assembly, among whom, 
notwithstanding these objectionable proceedings, we 
believe were some hundreds of spiritual worshippers, 
and we reached Springfield in time to secure a 
short night's repose, previous to our deparure for 
Hartford. 

Springfield contains a thriving population, and reli- 
gion is making considerable progress. Our brethren have 



426 HARTFORD ASSOCIATION. 

recently formed a church, and erected a place of wor- 
ship. It was delightful to find, that here as in every 
other place, where judicious commencements are made, 
success rapidly follows. Mr. Ives, a young brother from 
Brown University, Providence, had engaged to labour for 
six months in this delightful town. The church con- 
sists of 125 members, and twenty-eight had been added 
since Mr. Ives began his labours. 

The sight of Hartford Bridge affected us with grateful 
recollections of the divine goodness which we had expe- 
rienced since the morning of May 21, when before the 
dawn of day we crossed the long and gloomy avenue, 
on the way to Providence. We had completed between 
us a vast circle of several thousand miles, without the 
slightest accident, and desired to acknowledge the hand 
of God in our preservation. We greatly regretted the 
disappointment which had been occasioned by our not 
arriving the previous evening, when an assembly was 
convened in consequence of notice of our intended visit ; 
and engaging to return the next day, we set off the same 
hour for Canton, where the Hartford Association was 
then sitting. This meeting brought a considerable num- 
ber of the neighbouring pastors together, and it was 
rendered interesting, not only by the customary business 
transacted, but by a visit from Mr. Peck, of Illinois, who 
was many years ago a member of the body. On one 
occasion, he contrasted the state of the association as he 
had known it, with what he now found it after the 
absence of twenty years. At that period it contained 
twenty -seven churches, but scattered over a much wider 
district of country. It has since been twice divided, and 
now, within a comparatively small circuit, it consists of 
twenty-seven churches, and each of the other divisions, 



HARTFORD ASSOCIATION. 427 

is not merely in a flourishing state, but even larger than 
the parent body. 

The report presented from the respective churches, 
was not so replete with encouraging statements as it 
had sometimes been, though the accessions during 
the year had been enough to cheer the hearts of the 
pastors, and two churches had been blessed with re- 
vivals. 

It is on occasions like these, that a visitor is enabled 
to form the most satisfactory opinion of the body of 
ministers who are scattered over the country ; and such 
an interview as we enjoyed, proved to us, that here also 
our brethren were men of God, who though not gifted 
with a high degree of polish and refinement of external 
manners, are well acquainted with their own duties, 
whose spirits are deeply imbued with divine truth, and 
as far as knowledge of and capacity for that business 
which is appropriate to their engagements constitutes 
them such, they may be regarded as men of sound 
practical wisdom. We cheerfully took part in the asso- 
ciational services, and listened once more to a very 
striking description of the necessities and claims of the 
west, from Mr. Peck. Among the most interesting 
communications made relative to revivals, were those 
of the deacon of Canton, whose house is erected at the 
foot of a romantic and steep range of hills, which over- 
hang the road near the meeting-house ; rising in some 
places as perpendicularly as a stone barrier thrown up 
by art, but in others, swelling into beautiful curves, and 
clothed with foliage, on which the first faint tints of 
autumn began to blush. As we stood admiring the 
scene from the house of prayer, he told us, that at their 
last revival those Woods were vocal night and day with 



428 MONTE VIDEO. 

prayer and praise ; that it was the practice of the people 
to retire from their houses into these mountains, and 
there, in lone sequestered spots, to remain for many- 
hours in earnest wrestlings with God. Many at that 
time sought an oratory in some cleft of the rocks, where, 
concealed by shrubs and trees, they remained in tears 
and prayers, seeking divine mercy ; and some returned 
not from the sacred seclusion, till like Israel they had 
prevailed. The brightened countenance reminded the 
beholder of the man whose face shone after he had 
ascended the mountain to commune with God ; and the 
cheerful voice soon expressed holy joy and peace of heart. 
We paid a brief visit to the excellent pastor, Mr. Phip- 
pen, and returned with our friend Dr. Davis, to occupy 
his pulpit at Hartford. It was arranged that we should 
turn aside from the road to contemplate the scenery of 
Monte Video, the seat of Mr. Wadsworth, and the 
brethren Linsley, Mailer y, and Jennings, accompanied 
us on this excursion. This place is remarkable for its 
beauty and magnificence, especially as viewed from the 
summit of a wooden tower erected on the brow of a lofty 
hill ; the grounds are well laid out, and a small lake 
reposes in the shade of the surrounding groves, but the 
house itself is a structure of no corresponding preten- 
sions, being nothing more than a moderate-sized villa, 
or genteel country residence. The drive and paths 
conducting to the tower are admirably contrived, and 
the plantations so skilfully planned, that although you 
pass along the very brow of a mountain on one side, and 
see the naked cliffs rising like a perpendicular wall, 100 
feet high on the other, and frowning like some ancient 
fortification, you do not catch a glimpse of the prospect, 
which is so soon to burst upon you. The summit of the 



MONTE VIDEO* 429 

tower is about 1000 feet above the river, and the view 
from thence so far surpasses expectation, even after sur- 
veying it in every direction from the base, as to occasion 
the most agreeable surprise. Hills in the neighbourhood 
of New Haven are clearly seen, and the opposite side of 
the horizon presents the picturesque summits of the Ver- 
mont mountains ; while the Farmington Valley seems to 
stretch out into a boundless region of cultivated country. 
The Connecticut is visible here and there, meandering 
through a fertile and variegated region. 

Mount Talcot, which is crowned by the tower of Monte 
Video, is descended by a good road, down which we has- 
tened, and were courteously received by Deacon Gilbert, 
previous to the meeting at the church of Dr. Davis. In 
this spacious and elegant place of worship a very large 
assembly was convened, notwithstanding the previous 
disappointment. 

On the following day, September 11th, Mr. Gilbert 
obliged us with a conveyance to visit objects of interest, to 
which we can make but brief reference. In these hasty 
remarks, however, we record, with most gratifying remem- 
brance, our interview with the lady whose well-known 
name so much enriches and adorns the female biography 
of the new world. America has given birth to men of 
eminence — her daughters are worthy of her sons, and, 
among them Mrs. Sigourney holds a conspicuous place, 
having endeared herself to all who speak our tongue, by 
many exquisite poetical effusions. Her muse, too, often 
aids the devotions of christians, as they sing the songs of 
Zion. 

We paid a visit to Washington College, on our way to 
Charter Oak. Having seen the oak, we also looked 
upon the parchment itself, which was there concealed. 
37 



430 charter oak:. 

from the grasp of that unjust oppressor. James II.* It m 
preserved in the State House, but has become a useless, 
though an interesting relic. The lands are held by ano- 
ther tenure, and the state is governed by other laws. It 
was curious to observe, that the printed paper which lined 
the little leather trunk in which the old charter was origi- 
nally deposited, was part of a book by the notorious Dr. 
Featty, who. as an opponent of the baptists, wrote '•'- The 
Dippers Dipped ; " and, in the preface, said. : - He could 
hardly dip his pen in any other liquor than that of the 
juice of gall." How impotent and innoxious has this 
wrath proved with all its bitterness ! 

D. Davis's church consists of 315 members. They 
meet in a place of worship, eighty feet by sixty ; and the 
second church, recently formed, of fifty members, but now 
increased to sixty-six, is also building a good house. Of 
the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and its intelligent and suc- 
cessful superintendent, Mr. Weld, it is impossible to speak 
in terms too high. We shall never forget the specimens 
of facility, to a stranger almost miraculous, with which he 
communicated to the pupils of his class (nine youths and 
five young women) who we were, and what were our 
objects. Partly by manual spelling, and partly by inimi- 
table pantomime, he made them all so clearly understand; 
that the whole fourteen immediately wrote on their boards, 
and in very similar language, the following sentence : — 
a These gentlemen are Dr. Cox from Hackney, and- 

* When the king's agent, in 1686, demanded the charter of 
the state authorities, and would, no doubt, have obtained it vio- 
lently if it was not peaceably given up. the lights were suddenly 
dashed out. After a momentary consternation, order was 
restored, and the discussion renewed: but the charter, which 
had been lying on the table, had disappeared. 






DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM. 431 

Mr. Hohyfrom Birmingham, in England. They 
are come to see the baptist churches, schools, and 
institutions in America ; and will soon return and 
inform their friends, who sent them, what they have 
learned.' 1 

On returning to Springfield, we readily complied with 
Mr. Ives' request to meet his flock, with many friends of 
other denominations, in the house of prayer. The follow- 
ing morning we proceeded along the banks of the Connec- 
ticut to Northampton, intending to spend there one quiet 
Sabbath. We had been apprized of the low state of our 
churches in that immediate vicinity ; but it was our desire 
to look upon the affairs of the denomination in every vari- 
ety of aspect. 

As if by prescriptive right, the congregationalists have 
maintained the occupancy and ascendancy in this town. 
The labours of Edwards, and the tomb of Brainerd, seem 
to consecrate the title, though the whole church lays claim 
to these great and holy men. Dr. Penny's church is very 
large, and the second or Edwards' church is a substantial 
and handsome building of good dimensions ; both places 
are tolerably well attended ; they are in the centre of the 
town, while the baptist and episcopal places of worship are 
built at opposite extremities, and appeared to us, in point of 
prosperity, to be in an equally forlorn condition ; the former 
was not so much as opened for public worship, and had 
the appearance of having been long closed ; the latter was 
indeed opened, but there was no other service but such as 
was carried on by four or five persons in the organ loft, 
who seemed to be playing a few psalm tunes. There is 
also a handsome unitarian chapel. In the church of Dr. 
Todd, who was from home, we heard a lecture on tempe- 
rance, and could not but consider it as a desecration, both of 



432 NORTHAMPTON. 

the place and of the Sabbath evening. The whole subject 
was treated in a style which served no purpose but that 
of amusement ; it was altogether a ludicrous exhibition. 
Brainerd's tomb attracted us twice to the burial ground ; it 
is a plain black slab, supported on five small fluted pillars ; 
a marble tablet in the centre bears an inscription to the 
memory of the man of God, whose ashes repose beneath. 
Brainerd is a name enshrined in every christian's heart 
who has read of his devoted labours ; his memory will live 
without the aid of an eloquent epitaph ; but the simple 
record ought certainly to be engraven with some regard to 
taste; as it is, one's thoughts are diverted, to notice and to 
regret the inattention, even to ordinary rules, in an inscrip- 
tion, by such a division of words ; the lines are as follows : — 

SACRED TO THE MEMORY 
OF THE REV. 
DAVID BRAINERD A FAITH- 
FUL AND LABORIOUS MISSIONARY 
TO THE STOCKBRIDGE THE 
DELAWARE AND THE STJSQUE- 
HANNAH TRIBE OF INDIANS 
WHO DIED IN THIS TOWN 
•OCT. 10, 1747 AGED 30. 

The early age at which Brainerd was removed, ren- 
dered an epitaph on the tomb of a yet younger inhabi- 
tant of the grave, close by, peculiarly impressive : — 

"There was a time, that time is past, 
When, youth, I bloomed like thee ; 
A time will come, 'tis coming fast, 
When thou shalt fade like me." 

Mr. Willard, the baptist pastor at Northampton, was 
from home. His church is small, for although about 



NEW HARMONY. 433 

fifty are nominally members, they are widely scattered. 
The undertaking originated in the circumstance of many 
persons having preaching in private houses several years 
ago, in consequence of some dissatisfaction with the min- 
istry at the old church. Having met with acceptance at 
about forty different houses, he was induced to erect the 
chapel ; but in the mean time, efficient aid was obtained 
where the people had been accustomed to worship, and 
the few baptists have not as yet been able successfully 
to encounter the difficulties of a new undertaking. We 
were sorry to leave the neighbourhood without a visit to 
Amherst. At that place our small church is more suc- 
cessful as they keep up stated worship, and have expe- 
rienced some encouragement, of which we had not been 
apprized. 

We thought and conversed of our revered Kyland, 
of blessed memory, as we walked to the spot where the 
house of Jonathan Edwards stood, and admired, in the 
dusk of evening, the noble elms which he is said to have 
planted with his own hands. No man appreciated bet- 
ter, or felt a profounder veneration for the mighty and 
gigantic theologian than did Dr. Ryland. 

Mount Holyoke and Mount Tom are the lofty hills 
between which the Connecticut winds its peaceful course. 
The ascent to the first is a very easy excursion from 
Northampton, as a carriage can be driven very nearly to 
the summit. The view is considered by some unrival- 
led; it resembles that from Monte Video, and embraces 
many of the same objects. Eminences 160 miles apart 
are distinctly seen, and the greater part of the interven- 
ing country wears a richly-cultivated appearance. Here 
also the country is studded with those fairest ornaments 
of an inhabited district, the temples of religion. 

37* 



434 'THE KAATERSKILL FALLS* 

The distance to Albany is seventy-three miles, and as 
it was to be performed by the stage in one day, we 
started at two in the morning. It was late before we 
reached the end of our journey, but not too late for Dr. 
Welch and Deacon Humphrey to find our retreat. An- 
other opportunity was thus afforded for at least a tran- 
sient interview with these and other friends: among 
whom we cannot help recording the valued name of 
Dr. Sprague, endeared afresh by acts of fraternal kind- 
ness. 

We intended merely to touch again at this city, but 
Dr. Cox was detained three days under the care of a 
physician, while his colleague availed himself of the 
opportunity of visiting both the Catskill Mountains and 
West Point. No scenes can surpass these sublime and 
beautiful views ; a stranger is entranced on reaching, 
under favourable circumstances, the terrace of the Moun- 
tain House, or the still higher craggs and points of rock 
which jut out at an elevation of nearly 3000 feet from 
the level of the sea. Round Top and High Peak in the 
immediate neighbourhood, and bounding the prospect on 
one side, are 3700 and 3800 feet high. 

The Kaaterskill Falls present a scene scarcely less 
striking, though altogether different in character. These 
slopes of majestic grandeur, adorned with the foliage of 
the mountain forests, descend from the distant heavens. 
The falls are fine, but the quantity of water was not 
great. A little river seems to make a spring over a dark 
shelf of rock, under which you may walk ; and after a 
leap of 170 feet the frighted waters seem to recover them- 
selves in a placid little lake ; but only the instant after- 
wards precipitate themselves eighty feet further down, 
and then rush and plunge off in a headlong course 



CATSKILL. 435 

amidst retired glens and deep hollows in the mountain 
pass through which a road is cut, till they are lost in the 
Hudson. 

The baptist church at Catskill was destitute of a pas- 
tor. It has been in a rather low condition, probably 
from the situation of the place of worship. Better days 
are anticipated, as the people were expecting a settled 
minister ; and having land, they had resolved on build- 
ing a new house. The church consists of sixty-four 
members, with a congregation of about 300, and forty 
children in the school. At Hudson, on the opposite bank 
of the river, there is a large and flourishing church of 
238 members, ninety-three of whom had been baptized 
during the year. At Coxsackie, where a small church 
of seventeen had been formed only three years ago, there 
are now 100 members : their excellent pastor, Mr. Green, 
was returning from Albany to an evening service, and 
stated that in the spring, during a deeply-interesting sea- 
son of revival, fifty-nine converts had been added to the 
church by baptism. It was painful to pass these and 
other churches on the banks of the noble river, but it 
was necessary to reach New York. We had engaged 
to spend Lord's day, September the 20th, at Newark and 
Paterson, and had it in contemplation to pass a day at 
Burlington with the New Jersey association. Having 
repeatedly crossed that state, we were desirous of meet- 
ing some of our brethren there, but our intercourse was 
restricted to these visits on the Sabbath, which were at 
each town highly gratifying. 

Paterson is a manufacturing town of 10,000 inhabi- 
tants, and partakes more of the coarse, ignorant, and 
vulgar attributes of similar towns in the old country, 
than is common in America. It may be contrasted with 



436 "pateRson. 

Lowel also in these respects, and for the prevalence of 
infidelity and Catholicism. The bad influence which 
Miss Wright exerted over many by her infidel senti- 
ments is still deplored by the serious inhabitants of the 
place. Great difficulty is experienced in persuading the 
people to avail themselves of Sunday-school advantageSj 
and the humiliating cause to which it is ascribed, is 
the number of emigrants who have settled here. It is 
very affecting, and at the same time instructive, to hear 
the natives of a country where all sections of the church 
are on an equality, complain of settlers from countries 
where state religions are supported with enormous reve- 
nues, as being the greatest hindrances to the furtherance 
of religion. Mr. Grenell, the devoted pastor of the 
church, was dangerously ill, but very large assemblies 
were convened, and his people gave their visitor a truly 
fraternal reception. The church was just reviving from 
a very languid state ; forty had joined within a short 
period, without any protracted meetings, or special ob- 
servances ; thirty of whom were either teachers or pupils 
in the Sunday-schools, which contain 220 children. 
The church consists now of 105 members, with a con- 
gregation of 400 or 500. 

Water power is obtained. in this town by diverting the 
Passaic river from its channel just above the Falls, and 
tapping the canal wherever a mill is erected, through 
which the stream regains its lower bed. This channel 
is seventy feet below the upper course of the river, and 
there is no doubt but the whole body of the stream will 
ultimately be conducted from the wild and frowning 
chasm of rock down which it was destined by nature to 
fall. This romantic spot being now accessible by a 
rail-road, multitudes resort to it from New York on a 



NEW YORK. 437 

Sunday, as one of the most delightful excursions in the 
neighbourhood. 

In population and commercial importance. New York 
is the first city in the United States, although the seat of 
the general government is at Washington, and even the 
state legislature holds its sittings 1 50 miles distant, at 
Albany. The political influence of this queen of Ame- 
rican cities is so checked and balanced, that under ex- 
isting circumstances it can never become like the metro- 
polis of a monarchy, a kind of heart to the body politic, 
whose pulsations affect the remotest extremities. On 
the contrary, were it even engulphed in the waters which 
encircle so great a portion of it, all that would happen 
affecting the Union at large, would be the distribution 
of her immense commerce among the other ports of the 
country. In a religious point of view something more 
of a metropolitan influence is exerted, by the extent of 
the community ; but, even in this respect, the other large 
cities aspire to be equally the centres of their respective 
portions of territory. This must, in some degree, con- 
tinue to be the case, both with Philadelphia and Boston ; 
but owing to their relative positions, neither of them can 
exert the same moral power among the religious com- 
munity of the west. New York is now the seat of the 
principal societies. The anniversaries of May present 
from year to year an animating view of those institutions 
which combine the energies of various denominations • 
but still these festive occasions do not by any means 
supply a correct data, by which to judge of the relative 
strength of different sections of the church. It is certain, 
for instance, that the episcopalians are a much more 
numerous and efficient body here, than in any other por- 



438 



NEW YORK. 



tion of the Union, while the congregationalists are 
scarcely represented at all. 

The most recently published list of places of worship, 
gives a total of 135, viz. 



Presbyterian .33 

Episcopalian 24 

Baptist 17 

Dutch Reformed ... 15 
Methodist Episcopal . . 10 
Methodist Independent . 9 
Roman Catholic ... 6 

Friends . 4 

Uisiversalists 3 



Jews 3 

Congregationalists ... 2 

Unitarians 2 

Lutherans 2 

General Baptists ... 1 

Moravians 1 

Christians 1 

New Jerusalemites ... 1 

Mariners 1 



The baptist churches of New York do not form one 
association ; eleven of them are united with that of the 
Hudson River, and at the anniversary of 1835, returned 
a total of 2341 members. The others are reported as in 
union with the New York Association, and gave a total 
of 1600 members. Besides these, a new church has re- 
cently been formed, and there are some others, though 
small, and but little known. It may be safely stated, 
that 5000 persons are in communion with the baptist 
churches in New York. It will not appear surprising 
that a few, in so large a community, should be found in 
a state of separation from the general body, who will, 
we trust, be ultimately brought into fraternal fellowship 
with the other pastors and churches. It is probable, 
that the congregations cannot fall short of 10,000, as 
some of the chapels are very large, and well attended. 
The denomination appears very considerable, though 
there are many towns throughout the United States, 



NEW YORK. 439 

where no denomination exceeds it, either in numbers, 
respectability, or influence. 

The accessions by baptism to ten of these churches, 
of which accounts were obtained, amounted to 250, and 
to five of the others, 150, during one year, giving an 
average of twenty-seven to each, and evincing that, with 
the continued smiles of God, either these communities 
must become inconveniently numerous, or they must, as 
in many other instances, divide and multiply. Most of 
them have, in fact, originated in small beginnings ; a 
few individuals cherishing an ardent desire for the ex- 
tension of the kingdom of Christ, have met in some 
obscure situation, and, from time to time, united in 
prayer, and concerted measures for evangelizing the dis- 
tricts around, by the consolidation of a christian church. 
The number composing the church in Oliver-street, of 
which the Rev. S. H. Cone is the present pastor, was 
only thirteen ; of whom a few are yet alive, to witness 
that growth and efficiency which now characterize this 
thriving community. The place of worship is capable 
of containing between 2000 and 3000 persons, and we 
had the joy of seeing it full and crowded, both on the 
Sabbath and on other public occasions. The church 
comprises 749 members. It has dismissed very many 
for the purpose of strengthening feeble societies, or of. 
forming new ones, and manifests an ever-increasing de- 
gree of holy activity in the propagation of the gospel. 

The church in Mulberry-street, under the pastoral 
care of the Rev. A. Maclay, consisted at first of eighteen 
persons. The place of worship is nearly, or quite as 
capacious as that of Oliver-street, although untoward cir- 
cumstances have thinned its once replenished seats. The 
general spirit of hearing in the city, nevertheless awakens 



440 NEW YORK. 

the hope that events may prove more auspicious ; and in 
this or in another locality, to which probably the church 
might with advantage be transferred, it may be restored 
to its former state of enlargement. A large secession has 
been recently dismissed to form a new society, which is 
constituted with eighty-nine members, under the name 
of " The West Baptist Church of New- York." 

The Amity-street church was formed about three 
years ago, of forty-three members, and is now in a flour- 
ishing condition, under the Rev. W. R. Williams. The 
heavy debt which rested on their new and costly house, 
has been considerably reduced, the congregation in- 
creases, and the church has had an accession of many 
members, being now 126. 

At Mount Pleasant, the labours of the Rev. C. C. Wil- 
liams, who was recently inducted into the pastoral office, 
have been crowned with success ; and there is every 
prospect of a great increase. 

The North Beriah church, of 400 members, of which 
the Rev. Duncan Dunbar is pastor, exhibits evident 
signs of progressive extension. The place of worship, 
which is well filled, contains about 900 or 1000 people. 
The Sunday-school and other religious institutions, are 
in a state of evident prosperity. 

East Church had, during the past year, a season of 
revival. A series of protracted meetings was attended 
with great good. Among the number added to the 
church, were thirty-seven heads of families. 

At Brooklyn, the first church, of nearly 200 members, 
under the pastoral care of Mr. Howard, have just erected 
a large and commodious place of worship ; and notwith- 
standing the extra expenses that have been incurred, 
they have vigorously aided various benevolent institu 



NEW YORK. 441 

tions. During the year, a Young Mens Home Mis* 
sionary Society, a Maternal Association, and a Bible 
Class, have been formed, with the fairest prospects of 
extensive usefulness. The Rev. J. Betham has been 
ordained a pastor of the second churchy in that populous 
and rapidly-augmenting town. 

However gratifying it would be to enumerate each 
church in this city and its neighbourhood, we must be 
contented with thus naming a few ; and referring as we 
have done to the symptoms of prosperity. We were, 
nevertheless, impressed with the fact that the denomina- 
tion requires strength here. An accession of ministers, of 
cultivated minds and hearts, might yet originate several 
new churches. Our intercourse with the brethren Cone} 
Maclay, Williams, Somers, Howard of Brooklyn, and 
others, was truly pleasing ; nor can we forget, especially, 
the active zeal and fidelity of Dr. Going, in the home 
missionary department ; but, with a hundred thousand 
inhabitants still untaught in this vast commercial metro- 
polis, we could not but feel persuaded that much unoccu- 
pied ground remains ; and, with existing resources in the 
property and piety of the people, much may yet be accom- 
plished. Other churches in our denomination need to be 
erected ; and the excellent ministers of the city, we are 
sure, will concur in the fervent prayer, that an increase of 
ministerial ability and moral power may be made to their 
body. The day is not distant, we trust, when New- York 
will be as illustrious for her religion, as she is distin- 
guished by her commercial enterprise ; and when the 
waters of the sanctuary will spread into an expanse of 
moral beauty and refreshing influence, of which the pre- 
sent scenery of her encircling streams and enchanting 
bay, furnish but a faint and inadequate emblem. 
38 



442 NEW YORK. 

Most of the churches display a commendable zeal in 
promoting the benevolent objects of the day ; and bible 
classes, and, in some of them, maternal associations, are 
in promising operation. In the associational statistics^ 
almost all report the existence of a library, varying from 
fifty to upwards of 500 volumes. There is obviously an 
enlarged desire to do good, a cordial participation in the 
operations of the foreign and home missions, which 
enjoy the confidence, prayers, and labours of the churches. 
A striking instance of liberality appears in the fact, that 
almost double the amount stipulated to be given to the 
State Convention, by the association, comprising many 
of the churches in the city, has been contributed, while 
the pastors and influential members are rejoicing in the 
substitution of systematized efforts, instead of fitful and 
irregular movements in the cause of benevolence. 

During the few days spent at New- York previous to 
oUr departure, our time was greatly occupied by receiv- 
ing and paying visits, and by conferences with christian 
friends, and inquiries relative to various subjects con- 
nected with our mission. Besides topics of special inte- 
rest in our own denomination, which were numerous and 
important, discussions pending in the Bible Society, and 
the operations of other religious institutions, naturally 
engaged our attention. Among these, the subject of 
education generally was not overlooked. We can fully 
confirm the often-repeated reports of ample provision for 
the instruction of all classes ; but our inquiries respecting 
the numerous coloured people of the city were not equally 
satisfactory. The devoted friends to the education of 
the blacks, assured us that there were facilities in exist- 
ence for the instruction of the entire youth of that part of 
the community, and that some time ago they had sue- 



NEW YORK. 443 

ceeded in gathering them very generally into the 
schools. Latterly these philanthropists have had great 
reason to deplore the indifference of the coloured people 
to the subject, and the withdrawment of many of the 
scholars. It was not easy to arrive at a satisfactory 
opinion relative to the causes of this, though the fact is 
undoubted. So much of party spirit appears to prevail 
among those who profess to befriend these degraded 
people, that amidst their mutual recriminations, we can 
only infer, that the suspicions incident to a state of 
ignorance and prejudice, have led the African race to 
distrust all parties, and fear that they have no friends 
who honestly intend their elevation in society by the 
proffered education. 

It may be true that many colonizationists are con- 
nected with the schools, and it may be true that aboli- 
tionists represent them as not the true friends of those 
coloured people who persist in regarding America as their 
country and their home ; but it must obviously be the 
duty of all to adopt every plan that is practicable ; and, 
as soon as it is found to be practicable, to impart mental, 
and moral, and religious benefits to those to whom the 
white race is so deeply indebted. Hence it was that at 
one of the New York anniversaries, we ventured to ex- 
press our earnest prayer that God would be pleased to 
unite the hearts and harmonize the counsels, of all the 
true friends of Africa and her injured offspring. We did 
so amidst the universal discord of that jarring season, 
expressing, at the same time, our glory and our joy, that 
although the British isles were small, so vast was our 
empire, that the sun never sets upon it, yet that sun 
never shines upon a slave And here do we express 
again our earnest prayer, that God may be pleased so to 



444 NEW YORK. 

guide the counsels of the respective states, and so to in- 
fluence the federal government, that America may free 
herself from the curse, and wipe away the stain of 
slavery, by an enlightened course of legislation. 

On the existing controversy in the Bible Society, aris- 
ing out of an objection to assist our denomination in any 
of its versions of the holy scriptures into heathen tongues, 
because our missionaries feel themselves bound in con- 
science to render the word for baptism, by terms which 
convey the idea of immersion, we are not disposed to 
enter, excepting simply to say, that if the committee of 
the Bible Society erect themselves into a company of 
critics upon new versions, in, to them, unknown lan- 
guages, instead of maintaining the non-interfering but 
all-patronizing principle of cirulating every version in 
every language, approved by competent judges in those 
respective dialects, then do they depart from the funda- 
mental principle, and sully the beauty of an institution, 
jn its division the dishonour, in its union the glory, of 
our land. Recent information convinces us that the 
subject can by no means be disposed? of in America, as 
it has been attempted to be settled in England. 

Among the last of our engagements, was a visit to 
New Jersey. The locality of Newark possessed pecu- 
liar interest, from associating with it the name of Brai- 
nerd, who was ordained there as a missionary in June, 
1744 : and immediately afterwards entered on his ardu- 
ous enterprise at Sakhauwotung, within the forks of the 
Delaware. The population of Newark has rapidly in- 
creased, and amounts at present to 18,000 or 20,000. 
It contains five presbyterian churches, two baptist, one 
Dutch reformed, two African, one Scotch secession, one 
episcopal, one Roman catholic, and one universalist. Of 



NEW YOKK. 445 

these, only three are tolerably attended. Besides many 
churches that are un associated, and others in connexion 
with various other kindred societies in neighbouring 
states, the New Jersey Association comprehends about 
twenty-four churches. A literary institute of increasing 
importance is situated in the beautiful village of Plain- 
field, and a new building is erecting for a library 
and recitation rooms. A baptist church was reared 
here in 1818, which is now flourishing under the pasto- 
ral charge of the Rev. D. F. Hill. Schools and bible 
classes are in vigorous operation. 

On our return to the house of J. Fellowes, Esq. of 
Dey-street, which we had the privilege of calling our 
home on this last visit to New York, we enjoyed, among 
other assemblies, public and social, an opportunity of 
uniting in the weekly prayer-meeting of the ministers 
and active friends of missions in one of the apartments 
of Clinton Hall. About twenty-one were convened on 
the morning of our attendance ; and on this occasion, 
the persons present were constituted into a council to 
examine a young minister who offered himself for ordi- 
nation as an evangelist in Virginia. The investigations 
were long and scrutinizing on points of doctrine, and 
evinced the judicious caution with which the sanction 
of such bodies is accorded to candidates for the sacred 
office. 

Dr. Cox was called to perform the marriage ceremony- 
for our friend, the Rev. C. Stuart, well known in Eng- 
land by his published travels, who, for the second time, 
obtained a facile admission into the "holy state," by a 
ceremony which loses nothing of its importance by the 
simplicity of its administration. That he could engage 
in the service as the officiating clergyman, is honourable 

38* 



446 NEW YORK. 

to the country whose proceedings in this respect will 
probably be soon imitated in our own land. He was 
further called to another important and more public 
duty, that of delivering an address. "On the Alliance 
between Literature and Religion," before the friends of the 
New York University, previously to the opening of the new 
and splendid edifice which has been erected. This institu- 
tion comprises four faculties, namely, those of letters and 
the fine arts, science and the arts, law, and medicine. It is 
divided into two general departments ; the first embraces 
the usual collegiate course of instruction which has obtain- 
ed in the United States, together with a complete course of 
English literature, and of the sciences, with their appli- 
cation to the arts and to the ordinary purposes of fife ; 
the second includes instruction in the higher branches of 
literature and science, and in the professional studies. 
In this university, the bible is to be used as a classic in 
the department of sacred literature, the professorship of 
which is at present vacant. The scriptures are read 
and prayer offered every morning in the chapel, where 
one of the faculty officiates ; and the students are requir- 
ed to be present. The council is composed of gentle- 
men of various professions and different denominations 
of christians. The Rev. Dr. Mathews, minister of a 
most respectable presbyteran congregation, is chancel- 
lor ; and the Rev. A. Maclay, pastor of the baptist 
church in Mulberry-street, is secretary. 

Our re-embarkation was fixed for the 1st of October^ 
though we were unable to get under weigh till the 
2d. On the preceding evening, we publicly took leave 
of our American friends, who crowded the capacious 
church of our valued brother, Cone, in Oliver-street. We 
will not trust ourselves to any description of the scene y 



NEW YORK. 447 

but only add, with reference to our departure on the day 
of final adieus, that although a few hours sufficed to 
remove America, with its mighty people, from the scene 
of vision, neither distance, nor time, nor change, can 
obliterate from memory's tablet, or displace from among 
the most cherished reminiscences of existence, the be- 
loved image of that glorious country ! 



448 



CHAPTER XIV. 

SUMMARY VIEW OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION 
IN THE UNITED STATES. 

Having performed a tour of no inconsiderable extent, 
and made continual observations on the moral and reli- 
gious state of society, it may justly be expected that, 
apart from the minuter details of our united and separate 
journeys, we should endeavour to represent the general 
impressions which we received of transatlantic piety. 
Our intercourse, though, for obvious reasons, maintained 
chiefly with the members of our own community, was 
by no means restricted to them ; but we prescribe nar- 
row limits to our remarks, both on account of the specr 
fled object of our publication, and the wish to avoid 
interference with the labours of our predecessors in 
travel. We might perhaps safely leave our readers to 
deduce their own conclusions from the information either 
directly or incidentally communicated in the preceding 
pages ; but a guiding outline in the form of a summary 
may be useful for reference. 

Among the convenient divisions of the country is that 
of New England, as the comprehensive designation of 
the six following states : Maine, New Hampshire, Ver- 
mont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. 
These, with characteristic diversities, are. nevertheless, 
considerably assimilated in their mental, moral, and reli- 



NEW ENGLAND. 449 

gious habits. They are, generally, firm as their own 
rocks ; independent in thought, and vigorous in action. 
Retaining the liveliest recollection of their puritanic 
origin, and somewhat of an ambitious desire to perpetu- 
ate the puritanic spirit, they spurn dictation both in 
politics and religion. The aggregate standard of mind 
bespeaks intellectual superiority, their tone of morals a 
virtuous pre-eminence, and their comparative manners, 
in the chief cities especially, an advancing refinement. 
There is usually a mutual reaction between the literature 
and religion of a country ; and the cultivation of each 
is reciprocally beneficial. The former by expanding the 
mind and enlarging the sphere of general knowledge, 
checks the excesses of enthusiasm ; while the latter sancti- 
fies and directs the mental culture. It is thus in New 
England, which presents, in the more important towns 
and in the cities, a body of religious people of the baptist, 
congregational, and other orthodox denominations, cast 
in as excellent a mould of sentiment and piety, and 
under the superintendence of a ministry as talented and 
effective as can be found in any country on the globe. 
Their theology may be denominated moderate Cal- 
vinism, of which a competent opinion may be formed 
by remarking their high estimation of the works of 
Andrew Fuller and Robert Hall. The mode of incul- 
cating their sentiments among the most regular and 
educated, is distinguished by good sense and strong 
appeals. The greatest disadvantage they suffer is, in 
our opinion, that of reading all their discourses, a prac- 
tice which, if it conduce to accuracy, is often found, even 
where their audiences approve and almost require it, to 
abate impression. 

Rhode Island boasts of the name of Roger Williams, 



450 RHODE ISLAND. — MAINE. 

the founder of the state, the chief instrument in the 
establishment of the first baptist church in America, at 
Providence, and the first advocate of civil and religious 
freedom in the new world. The Sabbatarians are prin- 
cipally confined to this small state, where they were 
planted as early as 1671, at Newport. Here also reside 
chiefly the six-principle baptists, a name derived from 
their belief that the imposition of hands is still binding 
as a pre-requisite to communion, and their reference to 
the six propositions in Heb. vi. 1, 2, in which that ob- 
servance is mentioned. Religion is thriving in the prin- 
cipal places, as Newport and Providence ; and in the 
latter, the influence of the university is highly beneficial 
to the religious as well as literary character of the state. 
The State Convention has always promoted home 
missions with great zeal, and the Warren Association, 
founded in 1767, has been distinguished both for vigour 
in the support of missionary and benevolent efforts, and 
for the excellent character of its ministers and members. 
The spirit of non-submission to human dictation in mat- 
ters of religious concern, still pervades the community 
with its primitive sturdiness. 

Maine has the honour of never having had a slave ; 
a distinction belonging only to one other state, that of 
Vermont. Like Rhode Island, Maine has also provided 
for the literary and religious necessities of its population 
by the establishment of a noAv flourishing baptist univer- 
sity. The churches are neither numerous nor large, 
with a few exceptions ; the aggregate of inhabitants, in. 
deed, though rapidly inceasing, is still small ; but both 
in commercial enterprise and in religious exertion, they 
are mighty and persevering. There are several associa- 
tions, some flourishing, particularly the Eastern AssocL 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. — VERMONT. 451 

ation, in which Sunday-schools, bible-classes j and 
other holy undertakings are promoted. Antinomianism 
once attempted to lift up its head in one of the associa- 
tions, but has since retreated ; and in general there is 
much of zeal and union. The most lamentable circum- 
stance is the destitution of ministers. 

New Hampshire, though amongst the oldest states of 
the Union, the first settlement having commenced in 
1623, and the first church in 1638, is not so numerous 
either in churches or ministers, as many of the more re- 
cent sections. Its early inhabitants, however, devoted 
much time and attention to schools and public worship* 
The churches are generally small, and diffused among a 
scattered population : but many of them have been re- 
cently favoured with revivals of religion, and seem to be 
springing like the new-mown grass after a refreshing 
shower. The sabbath schools are increasing in numbers 
and efficiency, having at present about 100 in connex- 
ion with the union ; the number of children in each school 
may be nearly the same, and from among these, many 
have " turned to the Lord." They are increasingly alive 
to the benefits of literary as well as religious education. 
Many free-will baptists are found in this state, and both 
parties are propagating their sentiments with great zeal, 
but little or no co-operation. 

Vermont is considerably improved in practical religion 
within a few years. Formerly little was done or even 
attempted in the baptist denomination, but of late the 
value of associating in the State Convention, has been 
understood, and much liberality has been displayed in 
the cause of missions, schools, and ministerial education. 
All the churches have sabbath schools and bible classes. 
As in the state of New Hampshire, the people have great 



452 MASSACHUSETTS. 

sincerity of character, and great warmth, with less, per- 
haps, of what may be termed refinement than in their 
kindred states of the norths They are by no means 
disposed to luxury, though advancing in wealth. Both 
ministers and people in these two states have caught the 
revival spirit, and seem much disposed to religious con- 
versation and spiritual exercises. These are striking 
indications of the characteristic energy of the new world. 
Massachusetts is one of the smallest of the New 
England states, but is remarkable for its wealth, manu- 
factures, and commerce. In a religious point of view, 
too, it ranks deservedly high. Many of its towns and 
villages are famed for enterprise and industry ; and the 
inhabitants of these, with Boston at their head, are dis- 
tinguished alike by their intellectual and moral cultiva- 
tion. Notwithstanding the long and extensive sway of 
a now not increasing unitarianism, orthodox views of 
theology are prevalent ; a talented ministry is appreci- 
ated and generally obtained ; and our own denomina- 
tion is nowhere surpassed. A pervading solicitude for 
the promotion of genuine piety, and the enlargement of 
the christian cause, is apparent throughout the state. 
The ministers of our body, and of others in the country 
generally, but in the New England metropolis particular- 
ly, though rivals in talent, are harmonious in feeling ; 
and their activity imparts an impulse to the states, while 
they foster with peculiar care, and advance with growing 
success, home and foreign missions. The condition of 
society, that is, of christian society, is at once religious 
and refined ; and throughout the state the people appear 
rapidly progressive in knowledge, virtue and piety. 
They have, perhaps, a sufficient consciousness of their 
superiority ; a laudable desire, if possible to retain it ; and 



CONNECTICUT NEW YORK. 453 

at least an inward and ever-stimulating determination 
to employ their means and powers for the greatest good. 

The same general observations are applicable to Con- 
necticnt, although it contains only about half the num- 
ber of baptist churches : but bordering upon the state of 
New York, in the character of the ministry, and the tone 
of religious sentiment and feeling, it assimilates rather to 
that than to the other districts of New England. This 
state, together with New York and part of Pennsyl- 
vania, holds perhaps intellectually, as well as geographi- 
cally, an intermediate position. This is exemplified in 
the ministry of the word, and in the general tempera- 
ment of the people ; which in the south is so ardent 
and impassioned, that not only are many of our pas- 
tors untrammelled by every thing like scholastic pre- 
paration, but they are accustomed to pour forth their 
glowing unpremeditated effusions from " the abundance 
of the heart." 

The proceedings of the Convention evince the zeal of 
the whole body in Connecticut to embark in every holy 
enterprise, and to make itself responsible for a full share 
of the funds required. 

Of the Middle States, that of New York is the 
most considerable, and comprehends between 700 and 
800 of our churches. Their doctrinal theology is in 
general more highly Calvinistic than that of the northern 
and eastern states, and the style of preaching required is 
less argumentative. While the people of New England, 
in the principal towns at least, approve, or then ministers 
believe they approve, and therefore practise the method 
of reading written sermons, those of New York demand 
a more popular address. In analyzing the state of reli- 
gion, we believe that it will be often found in a degree 

39 



454 NEW YOKK. 

affected by the kind of ministerial instrumentality to 
which the people are most addicted, and that, cceteris 
paribus, the unwritten style of pulpit discourse will be 
most productive of experimental religion, in connexion 
with christian activity. While the most finished com- 
positions may tend to refine the taste and instruct the 
understanding, those which have less pretension to accu- 
racy, but come at once from the heart, if not unstudied 
yet unpolished, seem conducive to the greatest moral 
effect. 

The city of New York is the seat of the Home Mis- 
sionary Society, of whose exertions some idea may be 
formed, when it is stated that it employs nearly 100 mis- 
sionaries in different parts of the Union, and in the Brit- 
ish Provinces. Its greatest auxiliary is the Missionary 
Convention, although that convention has to aid many 
feeble churches. There is a great display of zeal in the 
baptist community of this state for the foreign missionary 
cause, and a full participation with those of New England 
in the contributions of christian liberality. While in 
many parts of the country there is at present an apparent 
relapse of religious feeling, which may be regarded as a 
temporary re-action after a series of revivals ; and in the 
metropolis, notwithstanding a recent extension of the 
cause, still a comparative paucity of places of worship, on 
the whole, the denomination may be said to be in a 
thriving condition. The deteriorating tendencies of 
commercial bustle are much counteracted by the spirit of 
an ardent piety, and many of the most respectable in 
civil life are also devoted to the cause of God. The zeal 
which is manifested in the support of their large theolo- 
gical institution at Hamilton, and in the christian com- 
bination of the Hudson River Association, has an evident 



NEW JERSEY, 455 

bearing on the spiritual improvement of the community ; 
as it will be invariably found that united exertions to 
promote great and good objects will have a meliorat- 
ing effect upon the character of those who are active for 
their interests. 

The churches of New Jersey are few, and individu- 
ally, with slight exceptions, feeble. Our visit however, 
to some of them was gratifying, and afforded an oppor- 
tunity of witnessing a spirit of holy love and devout 
seriousness. They evince much liberality in proportion 
to their numbers, and vigorously co-operate with the 
friends of ministerial education in Pennsylvania, in the 
establishment of a theological seminary. 

The small state of Delaware contains but an insig- 
nificent number of baptists ; nor are these at present, we 
apprehend, distinguished by much activity. 

Pennsylvania , as an old established state, has 
scarcely, we fear, its proportionate share of baptists. 
The denomination is by no means considerable in the 
country generally. There are, however, Home Mis- 
sionary Societies, and a Foreign Missionary Society; and 
efforts are made to provide for ministerial education. A 
difference in theological sentiment, producing divisions 
in the churches of Philadelphia, has necessarily had a 
deteriorating effect upon the character of religion itself. 
The ground of controversy has been chiefly high and 
low Calvinism ; and some of the most flourishing 
churches have been severely shaken by the storm. But 
of late the refreshing shower has descended. What are 
technically termed revivals, have taken place in one or 
two of the christian communities, and a progress in 
spirituality and zeal has accompanied a rapid increase 
of numbers in others. They generally partake of the 



456 MARYLAND — VIRGINIA. 

sobriety of their first inhabitants ; they are hospitable 
and kind, but somewhat rigid in their views, and punc- 
tilious in their religious practice. When Staughton de- 
parted, Ichabod seemed written on the walls of Zion ; 
but the progress of the denomination is fast effacing the 
melancholy inscription. 

In Maryland, the denomination is inconsiderable. 
The Home Missionary Society, however, employs four 
agents, whose labours have been useful. Evangelical 
preachers are generally few, and the proportion of Roman 
Catholics is great. In the early part of our narrative, 
we referred to the state of religion in Baltimore ; and 
with it, we trust that in all parts of this inieresting 
country it will speedily rise from its present depression. 
The respectability of character, the now increasing 
numbers, and the pious concern of the members of the 
denomination, afford encouraging indications for the 
future. 

The churches of Virginia are numerous, opulent, 
and prosperous. With much, very much that must be 
deeply deplored as incident to a slave state (a term which 
we devoutly hope and firmly believe will not be applica- 
ble a few years hence,) there are cheering manifestations 
of a fervent and well-principled religion. Their congre- 
gations are often large, particularly in Richmond ; their 
regard to the services of christian worship devoted ; their 
affection to each other fraternal ; their spirit generous ; 
and their conduct to the stranger frank, hospitable, and 
welcoming. It is to be regretted that the proportion of 
ministers to churches is small. Some have to officiate 
in two, three, and sometimes four places ; but they are 
aware of the evils, and will gradually remedy it. The 
ministry, as a whole, is deficient in education. The 



SOUTHERN STATES. 457 

Virginia Baptist Seminary is, however, a great element 
of improvement in this respect, and the advocates of 
education and or missions are multiplying every day, 
while their opponents, with their pseudo-calvinism, are 
rapidly diminishing. Some of the churches have been 
affected with the anti-effort spirit, and with the anti-mis- 
sionary and anti-union views of the Campbellite baptists, 
but the denomination is advancing in intelligence and 
in exertion. The style of preaching is plain and ener- 
getic — less instructive, perhaps, than impassioned. In 
their public exercises, the "live coal from the altar" 
seems to glow upon their tongues ; and in their private 
intercourse, " the law of kindness is in their hearts." The 
operations of the General Association are extensive, and 
the aid afforded to home and itinerant efforts is cordial 
and generous. Recent communications, since we left 
bespeak a growing prosperity. Their two annual camp 
meetings, which are peculiar to this portion of the deno- 
mination, appear to be conducted with the utmost de- 
corum, and to be productive of beneficial results. 

The Southern States constitute an important 
section of this vast country, in which the denomination 
is wealthy and numerous. It is, moreover, active for 
the cause of Christianity, both at home and abroad; and 
the literary and theological institutions which have been 
reared in North and South Carolina and in Georgia 
are prosperous. Efforts of a similar kind are making 
in Alabama. The State Conventions are in vigorous 
operation, and in many places there have been extensive 
revivals of religion. The state of Louisiana is con- 
sidered to be more destitute of ministers than any one in 
the Union, but has expressed the utmost readiness to 
afford aid in their support, and the utmost eagerness to 
39* 



458 Mississippi. 

obtain them. The same representation will apply to 
Mississippi. The Home Missionary Society employs 
a missionary in that country, another in Louisiana, and 
two in Alabama. 

The phrase, The Valley of the Mississippi, desig- 
nates the region whose streams are tributary to that 
mighty river, and through it are discharged into the 
Gulf of Mexico. This valley includes eight states and 
two territories, with a rapidly increasing population. It 
has been truly said,* that from its present circumstances, 
in which its moral elements exist in plastic form, it is 
the proper field for exerting an influence on human 
character and destiny ; and all parties seem aware of it. 
Every errorist is there to find in the unsuspecting frank- 
ness of a new country, a lodgement for his favourite 
dogma. Many a heresiarch is there to make an en- 
campment for his followers, and arrange his measure for 
proselyting. Infidelity is there . endeavouring to settle 
its strong points for exercising on influence in under- 
mining the public faith, and destroying the public con- 
science, and thus blighting the present enjoyment, and 
withering the future hopes of the people. Popery, more 
rapacious and acquisitive, is there claiming the appro- 
priation of the whole valley to the see of Rome. Its 
purpose is formed, and its plans of operation are settled; 
its points of influence are fixed on, and swarms of its 
emissaries are already on the ground, priests and teachers, 
monks and nuns of various orders, Jesuits and domini- 
cans, sisters of charity, and sisters of the blessed heart. 
Protestant ministers and missionaries are also in the 

* Report of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, 
drawn up, doubtless, by our active friend Dr. Going. 



MICHIGAN — OHIO. 459 

valley. Besides the native champions of the truth, and 
instructors of the young, and besides the ministers and 
teachers who in common with other classes, have of 
their own accord emigrated thither from the older states 
and elsewhere ; and besides that the most numerous 
religious denomination in the valley is by its ecclesiasti- 
cal polity, substantially a home mission body; — 400 
missionaries are sustained in the field by three evangelical 
denominations, and about 200 ministers are settled 
there, who were at first introduced by home missionary 
efforts. 

By far the greater part of the missionaries of the 
American Baptist Home Mission Society are employed 
in the western states and territories. The territory of 
Michigan contains a numerous population, among 
whom twelve of these missionaries are labouring with 
diligence and success. The friends of education also 
are making strenuous efforts to establish a literary and 
theological institution. 

Ohio contains more than a million of inhabitants. 
Here baptists are numerous, but they are not entirely 
harmonious in their views and operations; many of 
their churches are feeble and without pastors, and there 
is great need of missionary labour. 

Besides indirect aid in a grant of $300 to the State 
Convention, and other grants to different local societies 
of $200 more ; the Home Missionary Society has had 
during the past year seventeen missionaries, who have 
assisted in the formation of eighteen churches, and 
baptized 120 persons. There is here an obvious im- 
provement in the state of the churches, and multitudes 
exhibit an excellent spirit, and are ready to every good 
work. The progress of the Granville College is most 



460 INDIANA — ILLINOIS. 

encouraging, and its prospects were never brighter. 
Some of the churches are liberal towards foreign mis- 
sions. 

Efforts are making, in conjunction with other states, 
to establish within its limits, in due time, a theological 
seminary, on broad and liberal principles, and of a high 
order. The success of this project is of immense import- 
ance to ministerial education, and of course to the inter- 
ests of the churches, and to the prosperity of the denomi- 
nation in the western states. 

Indiana is an important state. It has already 12.000 
baptists, but not being joined together in the same mind, 
and in the same judgment, the moral power of the deno- 
mination is neutralized ; but there is a redeeming spirit 
abroad among them, which gives pledge of brighter 
days. The organization of a general association and 
its incipient measures, with the recent formation of an 
education society, with the intention of establishing a 
literary institution under religious influence, are working 
the redemption of the pledge. 

Illinois seems destined to be, in some respects, the 
most important of the western states. Here the denomi- 
nation was three years ago in a most deplorable condi- 
tion ; for besides being small and feeble, it was divided 
into parties, some of which were greatly opposed to efforts 
for reform. Nowhere, however, have missionary efforts 
been more successful and salutary. The churches have 
greatly increased in number, and are more harmonious 
in doctrine, and more active in duty. Delightful revi- 
vals have been enjoyed ; measures have been adopted 
for a concert of action in promoting the preaching of the 
gospel to the destitute, and a spirit of liberality in pecu- 
niary efforts has widely extended. In consequence, a 



KENTUCKY TENNESSEE ARKANSAS. 461 

state convention has been formed, which not merely 
exists in name, but gives promise of vigorous action on 
enlightened principles ; and the Alton Seminary, includ- 
ing a high school, the elements of a theological institu- 
tion, and the germ of a future college, has commenced 
its operations. 

Kentucky has about 38,000 baptist members, and 
the intluence of a numerical majority of adherents. 
Among them, too, is a vast amount of wealth. If the 
moral strength of the denomination could be combined 
in its state convention, and wisely directed to secure the 
entire consecration of its ministerial talent to the work of 
the ministry, the churches would be supplied with 
preaching and pastoral labour, and the gospel would be 
preached to multitudes now destitute. 

In Tennessee the baptists have about 30,000 commu- 
nicants. In each of the three districts of the state there 
are many excellent ministers and brethren. 

The Territory of Arkansas, with a scanty popula- 
tion, and few ministers of any denomination, has some 
baptist churches, and the number is increasing. Here 
the struggle between benevolent effort and inaction has 
commenced, and, as in all other cases, it must be event- 
ually decided in favour of holy effort. 

The free-will baptists of the United States consti- 
tute a considerable portion of the baptist community, 
having about 650 churches. The statements given by 
Dr. Cox, in his personal narrative of a visit to Lisbon, 
will enable the reader to form some estimate of this de- 
nomination. They are in general full of ardour and 
activity ; and, especially of late, through the incessant 
exertions of Mr. Sutton, now on his return to India, have 
engaged with much resolution in the missionary enter- 



462 FREE-WILL BAPTISTS. 

prise. Their leading ministers and people display also 
a characteristic zeal in opposing the principles of slavery 
and they evince a spirit of ready co-operation in what- 
ever may be judiciously attempted to promote its exter- 
mination. It may be probably anticipated, that, al- 
though the churches which compose this body and those 
of the calvinistic order, are at present separated from 
each other by their dividing peculiarities of sentiment, 
yet a gradual relaxation of the rigidities of system will 
ultimately produce not only an individual but denomina- 
tional approximation. This has been the case in Eng- 
land, and may, in all probability, be the progress of 
events in America. 

The baptists of America are almost universally strict 
co?n?nii?iionists, that is, they admit none to a participa- 
tion with them of the Lord's supper, who have not been 
baptized or immersed. On this subject, the churches in 
England are more divided in practice. Many, and in- 
deed a very increasing number of them, readily admit- 
ting paedobaptists to their sacramental table. Christians 
of all denominations are not sufficiently aware, that, 
while censuring the rigidity of strict communionists, they 
are for the most part equally strict, and participate in 
those feelings of bigotry, if they be such, of which they 
accuse their brethren. Nothing can be said of strict 
communion baptists, which may not be predicated of the 
great majority of congregationalists, episcopalians, pres- 
byterians, and others, viz. that they refuse to admit to 
the Lord's table, those who they themselves consider to 
be unbaptized. Many individuals are scattered through- 
out the states, who are strongly inclined to the practice 
of open or mixed communion, but scarcely any of the 
churches would tolerate it, or even allow the latitude of 



POTTER BAPTISTS. 463 

an occasional fellowship with those whom they deem 
unbaptized, to any of their members. Some small 
churches in the vicinity of Providence, who advocate it, 
have acquired the designation of u Potter Baptists," from 
a minister of that name. But although this difference 
of opinion prevails, in a few instances there, and in a 
rapidly increasing number in England, its advocates are 
nowhere regarded as a distinct body. Both in this 
country, however, and in America, multitudes who re- 
tain their connexion with the other denominations, seek 
the baptism of immersion ; in the latter it is exceedingly 
prevalent among episcopalians, presbyterians, and me- 
thodists. 

We must in justice and with gratitude remark, that 
there exists among our American brethren but little of 
that jealousy and censoriousness which are so fatal to 
cordial friendship and co-operation, or we were peculiarly 
felicitous in our associations. It was a topic of frequent 
observation between ourselves, that we rarely heard from 
a brother minister so much as a disparaging remark in 
reference to another, whether resident in his immediate 
neighbourhood or at a distance. It is partly from this 
cause, so far as we could judge, that brethren in the 
same cities and towns find such facilities in multiplying 
churches by peaceful divisions, instead of violent disrup- 
tions. They are, in fact, very free from a spirit of envy 
and hostile rivalry. 

From the account which we have furnished of the 
Triennial Convention at Richmond, as well as others 
subsequently introduced, it will be apparent that in con- 
ducting the general business of public meetings and 
associations the Americans greatly excel us ; as they do 
also in the summaries of proceedings and the digests of 



464 RICHMOND. 

circular letters. Their statistical reports are admirable ; 
minute, well arranged, and replete with information. 
They have acquired by their devoted attention to this 
object, an unquestionable pre-eminence. We highly 
appreciate, too. the respectful and fraternal methods of 
addressing the president for the time being of any deno- 
minational or local assembly. Instead of saying, " Mr. 
Chairman," or speaking of another in the parliamentary 
style of, " the gentleman on my right," or " on the other 
side," we have seen on more than one occasion, or fan- 
cied we have seen, the kindlings of temper extinguished 
by the habit and self-discipline which reiterates the 
terms " brother," and " brother chairman ;" — conven- 
tional terms which have, moreover, the air of courtesy 
and kindness, exercise a powerful and salutary restraint 
upon the effervescence of feeling, whether in civil or 
ecclesiastical associations, and, as such, are worthy of a 
careful and undeviating observance. 

It is frequent to change from other professions to that 
of the christian ministry ; not on the ground or with the 
hope of emolument, but from the principle of a pure and 
exalted love to souls ; and we have not unfrequently 
found that the same noble principle has operated in pro- 
ducing changes of residence. It has become, from obser- 
vations made in America, a kind of maxim with us, that 
the ministry there is too fluctuating, while in England it 
is too fixed. Theirs, indeed, is not a systematic move- 
ment, but it is one of great, too great frequency, because 
unfavourable to the pastoral sympathies and influence; 
yet have we known the removals in question dictated by 
that noble spirit of self-denial for Christ's sake, by which 
a superior situation in point of pecuniary advantage has 



MINISTRY. 465 

been abandoned for the sake of one in this respect infe- 
rior, but promising more extensive usefulness. 

Pastoral support is, on the average, and when general 
circumstances are taken into consideration better than in 
our native land. The actual stipend is frequently greater 
and incidental additions arise from sources with which 
we are unacquainted, as for instance, marriage fees, and 
" donation parties." In large cities and towns $1800 or 
$2000 or upwards is often given, that is four or five 
hundred pounds ; and while sometimes ascending higher, 
and in other cases descending through every scale of 
gradation much lower, a salary of $200 or $300 is 
common in very retired places. And with even this 
sum a pastor is enabled, in agricultural districts, and by 
the voluntary tithings of christian benevolence, to keep 
a horse and dearborn if his duties require it. In a word 
a truly pious and devoted man may generally find what 
he asks for — work; and what he needs- — sufficient 
support. 

The impression made by a superficial observation of 
the number of churches in comparison with that of pas- 
tors, is likely to be erroneous. It is true, that in the re- 
mote parts of the country, and particularly in the south, 
ministers may officiate in two or more congregations ; 
but these must be regarded as essentially branch 
churches. The considerable supply of licentiates must 
also be taken into the account, together with the regular 
administration of commissioned itinerants and agents 
from organized societies. From the multitudes of preach- 
ers who are not pastors, but who are very efficient, it 
must be observed, that the churches which appear as 
destitute, or are incorporated under one pastoral super- 
40 



466 STATE OF LITERATURE. 

intendence, are better supplied than may be at first 
sight imagined. 

The baptist denomination is rapidly advancing in edu- 
cation and literary character. Whatever may be the 
amount of actual attainment, some indication of at least 
a growing taste for knowledge, is afforded in the nume- 
rous periodicals and institutions hereafter enumerated. 
All classes of persons are desirous of information, both 
on general subjects, and on those connected with their 
particular vocations. While education is becoming 
highly prized, that which is strictly theological is more 
and more diffused. The same prejudices against learn- 
ing as a qualification for the christian ministry, have 
prevailed here to as great an extent as they did formerly 
in England amongst the ruder masses of religious com- 
munities ; but they are disappearing every day like the 
mist before the rising sun. It was gratifying to find, 
that in some of the strongholds of anti-literary prejudice, 
many of the churches had expressed their concurrence 
in educational projects, and their inclination to furnish 
pecuniary aid for their execution. The reports of state 
conventions and local associations contain newly- formed 
resolutions for this important end, which have been una- 
nimously adopted. This is only what might have been 
anticipated from the energetic and common sense cha- 
racter of the people. No sooner do they see an error, 
than they begin the removal of it ; and no sooner do 
they perceive a good, than they spring to its accomplish- 
ment. The steps they take to improvement are not like 
ours, " few and far between." We are more deliberative, 
they more prompt and self-confident. They are not, 
however, reckless, though rapid, and frequently unite 
the activity of youth with the wisdom of maturer life. 



REVIVALS. 



467 



They also act in larger masses than we do — with more 
generosity, and with more combination. 

We have given by previous details, some insight into 
the constitution and conduct of the colleges belonging 
to our denomination, and we cannot help referring to 
them once more as full of promise, and increasing in 
moral influence. Such institutions as Brown, Water- 
ville, Hamilton, Newton, and others, are the salt of the 
land ; and may it never lose its savour ! 

Tt is with feelings of sincere and deep regret we record 
our painful conviction, that in all the advantages of this 
vast and efficient machinery for the improvement of the 
denomination, our coloured brethren have no participa- 
tion. Here and there we meet with christians of Afri- 
can descent, endowed with the capability of intellectual 
attainment, but while no female seminaries can be 
peaceably conducted for their advantage, no coloured 
youth, however devoted and talented, can find access to 
literary or theological seminaries. The consequences 
are, as might be expected ; either the affairs of the Afri- 
can churches are managed by a few white persons, or, 
if left to themselves, their prosperity and harmony are 
too often marred by the altercations naturally incident 
to an uncultivated and degraded state of society. We 
earnestly hope attention will be directed to this vital 
topic. 

Revivals of religion must be looked at with a dis- 
criminating eye. While the baptist denomination has, 
in common with others, participated in their influence, 
mere justice would require it to be said, that they have 
been attended with but little extravagance. This is not 
a question of sect or party ; it has relation to the inte- 
rests of religion itself, and we shall, therefore, here briefly 



468 REVIVALS. 

allude to it, without attempting to discuss the movements 
of various denominations. 

There are, in fact, three classes of revivals : the first, 
and the worst, are nourished by injudicious camp-meet- 
ings: and here we employ an epithet, for the sake of 
another distinction, namely, that while some, especially 
as held in districts considerably pervaded already by re- 
gular churches and itinerant ministrations, are highly 
objectionable — others, carefully arranged, discreetly con- 
ducted, and annually or occasionally convened in places 
where a scattered population is destitute or almost un- 
s applied with the means of religion, may be attended 
with signal benefit. The second class of revivals, com- 
prehends those which are, if we may so express it, con- 
structed upon the basis of protracted meetings, and 
sustained by means of direct efforts of an exciting and 
agitating description. Some of these have been under 
the violent guidance of persons who have specially de- 
voted themselves to this object, and succeeded in raising 
a gust of feeling, which, like a hurricane or a thunder 
storm, soon passes away. What appears to us of very 
questionale propriety in the management of these meet- 
ings is the direct call for instantaneous avowals at the 
anxious seat. We cannot quite reconcile this with the 
due operation and concurrence of the understanding and 
the heart in this momentous affair, and especially with 
the depth of an inward repentance, and the modesty of 
a mind newly awakened to religious sensibility ; still, 
when we recollect the powerful impressions and speedy 
professions of the primitive times, we are scrupulous of 
passing too sweeping and condemnatory a sentence, lest 
we should be rooting up precious wheat with the thickly - 
growing tares. The distinction we are inclined to draw, 



REVIVALS. 469 

however, is between a forced religion, or what is urged 
and stimulated into an unwilling publicity without time 
to think, and that spontaneous manifestation of devot- 
edness to Christ, which may nevertheless be speedy, and 
occasionally immediate. The third class of revivals is 
that of an improved state of things — it may be a very 
rapidly-improved state of things — arising out of prayer 
meetings, conversations, inquiry, and an increased re- 
gard to the ordinary system of means, with or without 
protracted meetings. The latter we are disposed to ad- 
vocate, under proper regulations ; and their benefit in 
America has been extensively felt. The kind of assem- 
blies to which we refer, are those of ministers and peo- 
ple associating for the usual exercises of worship, for suc- 
cessive days at specified periods. These we think of 
great practical utility, and likely to be, as they have fre- 
quently been, attended with a divine blessing. They 
are, indeed, liable to be perverted to purposes of mere 
animal excitement, but they are adapted to promote 
great moral and spiritual good. Let them but be con- 
ducted with discretion and in faith ; then will " the Spi- 
rit be poured from on high," the enemies of truth will 
quail, infidelity be abashed, and the rejoicing church 
hail the victorious progress of a pure and primitive 
Christianity. 



40* 



471 



STATISTICS 



In presenting a few Tables of Statistics there is much difficulty in 
making a tolerable approximation to the truth, and modes and periods 
and divisions in computation vary in almost every section of the church. 
We are not aware that, excepting the congregationalists in New Eng- 
land, any but the baptists adhere to the divisions of the states, and no 
other denomination is diffused so generally throughout the Union. 
Partly on this account, and partly because our avowed object is to pre- 
sent a report of our own body, we introduce that statement in the first 
Table of Population. 

No. I. — Table of the Population of the United States, and a 
General View of the. Baptist Denomination. 



States, <fec. 


Total of 
Population. 


Slaves. 


Baptist Denomination. 








Assoc 


Churc's. 


Pastors. 


Licenc. 


Members. 


Maine - - - 


399,955 





10 


242 


157 


26 


16,380 


New Hampshire 


269,328 





6 


92 


66 


17 


7,610 


Vermont - - 


280,652 





7 


127 


82 


18 


10,796 


Massachusetts 


610,408 





10 


174 


159 


68 


18,999 


Rhode Island - 


97,199 


17 


1 


31 


23 


1 


4,874 


Connecticut - 


297,675 


25 


5 


95 


81 


19 


10,964 


New York 


1,918,608 


75 


35 


683 


526 


134 


68,295 


New Jersey - 


320,823 


2,254 


3 


39 


22 


7 


4,000 


Pennsylvania - 


1,348,233 


403 


13 


1S2 


114 


32 


14,011 


Delaware - - 


76,748 


3,305 


1 


9 


5 


4 


636 


Maryland - - 


447,040 


102,878 


2 


35 


19 


2 


1,251 


Columbia - - 


39,834 


6,119 


2 


5 


4 





533 


Virginia - - 


1,211,405 


469,757 


24 


441 


225 


36 


55,602 


Onio- - - - 


937,903 





22 


330 


175 


30 


14,000 


Michigan - - 


31,639 


32 


2 


39 


25 


3 


1,249 


Indiana - - - 


343,031 





23 


327 


243 


46 


12,146 


Illinois - - - 


157,455 


747 


20 


200 


135 


16 


6,107 


Kentucky - - 


687,917 


165,350 


34 


491 


179 


37 


34,791 


Tennessee - - 


681,904 


142,382 


22 


475 


186 


29 


26,435 


North Carolina 


737,987 


246,462 


22 


372 


128 


32 


21,676 


South Carolina 


581,185 


315,665 


9 


286 


134 


47 


32,040 


Georgia - - 


516,923 


217,531 


21 


587 


234 


55 


39,729 


Florida - - - 


34,730 


15,510 


N.B. 


20 






500 


Alabama - - 


309,527 


117,549 


13 


298 


113 


39 


14,287 


Mississippi- - 


136,621 


65,659 


5 


101 


35 


3 


2,861 

728 


Louisiana - - 


215,738 


109,63^ 


2 


16 


12 


2 


Arkansas - - 


30,388 


4,578 


2 


16 


10 





181 


Missouri - - 


140,445 


25,081 


12 


178 


77 


23 


&,919 
f 200 


Indian Territory 


46,820 


500 





9 


12 






472 



STATISTICS. 



No. II,— Summary View of the Baptist Denomination in 
North America. 





Churches. 


Ministers 


Members. 


Baptists in Association, No. 1 . . 

Baptists unassociated 

Free-will 


5,890 

700 

656 

22 

37 

50 

1,000 

95 
55 

40 


3,907 

400 

450 

21 

29 

40 

200 

300 

55 
46 
16 


427,800 

17,500 

30,000 

2,197 

4,305 

3,000 

30,000 

30,000 

100,000 

3,500 
4,549 
1,551 

500 


Six-principle 

Seventh-day 

Dunkers 

Mennonites 


Reformers, or Campbellites, have been 
computed at 150,000 ; but many of these are 
included in* the associational returns, as are 
some of the six-principle and seventh-day 
baptists ; while several whole bodies, from 
the peculiarity of their opinions, are alto- 
gether omitted, say, in the gross, 

Canada 

Nova Scotia 

New Brunswick 

Prince Edward's Island and Cape 






Baptists in North America . . . 


654,902 



No. III. — Summary View of other Denominations in the 
United States. 



Associate Presbyterians . . 
Associate Reformed . . . 
Congregationalists . . . . 
Cumberland Presbyterians . 
Dutch Reformed . . . . 

Episcopalians 

German Reformed . . . . 

Lutheran 

Methodists 

Methodist Episcopal Church 

Presbyterians 

Quakers, or Friends . . , 
Roman Catholics . . . . 

Unitarians 

United Brethren 

Universalists 

New Jerusalem 

Shakers 

Jews 



169 
100 
1,071 
110 
197 
800 
600 
627 
150 

2,648 
500 

187 
24 

550 
27 
15 



70 

58 

975 

70 

167 

697 

186 

216 

250 

2,458 

2,150 

340 

165 

33 

350 

33 

45 



12,886 

10,000 

129,756 

15,000 

22,515 

60,000 

30,000 

59,787 

30,000 

638,784 

247,964 

220,000 

600,000 

160,000 

5,745 



15,000 



STATISTICS. 



473 



No. IV.— BAPTIST UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, &c. 


Name. 


Found- 
ed. 


President. 


Tutors. 


Stu- 
dents. 


Vols, in 

Libraries. I 


Brown University 


1764 


F. Wayland, D.D. 


8 


167 


19,000 


Waterville Univ. 


1820 


R. Babcock, D.D. 


7 


94 


4,000 


Hamilton - - - 


1820 


N.Kendrick,D.D. 


8 


180 


3,850 


Columbian - - 


1821 


S. Chapin, D.D. 


9 


50 


4,000 


Newton - - - 


1825 


J. Chase, M.A. - 


3 


53 


1,800 


New Hampton - 


1826 


— Smith - - - 


2 


— 


1,000 


Georgetown - - 


1830 


S. Noel, D.D. - 


4 


36 


1,200 


Richmond, Va. - 


1832 


R. Ryland, A.M. 


3 


58 


1,000 


Granville - - - 


1832 


J. Pratt - - - 


6 


183 


3,500 


Alton - - - - 


1832 


J. Rogers - - 


— 


— 


— 


Furman - - - 


1833 


J. Hartwell - - 


2 


30 


1,000 


Mercer- - - - 


1833 


B.M.Sanders - 


— 


— 


— 


Haddington - - 


1834 


J. L. Dagg, A.M. 


— 


10 


— 


Eaton - - - - 


1834 


— 


— 


10 


— 


Burlington - - 


1835 


— 


— 


— 


— 



ACADEMIES, &c 



"Worcester (Mass.) High School. 
Mantua (N. J.) Manl. Labour Inst. 
Middleboro. 
South Reading (Mass.) 
Florida Inst. 

Wake Forest Inst. (N. Car,) 1834. 
Brockport (N. Y.) College, 100 ft. 
by 60 ft. 



Brandon (Vermont) Lit. & Scient. 

Plainfield. 

Union. 

Rockingham. 

Franklin. 

Bennington. 

New Jersey Classical Inst. 

Alabama Labour School. 



No. V.— Periodical Publications in connexion with the Bap- 
tist Denomination. 



Allen's U. S. Baptist Triennial 

Register. 
M'Coy's Annual Register of In- 
dian Affairs. 

Quarterly. 
The Christian Review. 

Monthly. 
American Baptist Magazine. 
Sabbath School Treasury. 
Tract Magazine. 

Semi-Monthly. 
Baptist Banner. 
The Indian Advocate. 
Weekly. ■ 
Christian Watchman. 
Christian Secretary. 
Christian Index. 
Christian Gazette. 
Cross and Banner. 



Evangelist (Lowell.) 

Journal, Weekly of Miss. Valley. 

Interpreter, N. Car. 

Morning Star. 

Pioneer and Western Baptist. 

Protestant Sentinel. 

Register, New England. 

Register, New York. 

Repository & H. M. Record, N.Y. 

Recorder. 

Register, New Hampshire. 

Religious Herald. 

Southern Baptist. 

Vermont Telegraph. 

World. 

Zion's Advocate. 

Occasionally. 
Tracts, of which there are now 
125, in six vols. 



474 



STATISTICS. 



No. VI.— COLLEGES IN THE UNITED STATES. 









Prof. 




Volumes 


Name. 


State. 


Found- 


and 


Stu- 


in 






ed. 


Tut. 


dents. 


Libraries. 


Bowdoin 


Maine 


1794 • 


10 


160 


17,000 


Waterville .... 


Maine 


1820 


7 


94 


4,000 


Dartmouth .... 


New Hampshire 


1770- 


11 


281 


13,000 


Univer. of Vermont . 


Vermont 


1791* 


7 


81 


2,000 


Middlebury .... 
Norwich University . 


Vermont 


1800 


5 


150 


5,430 


Vermont 


1834 


5 






Harvard University . 


Massachusetts 


1638* 


27 


217 


44,500 


Williams 


Massachusetts 


1793- 


7 


120 


7,200 


Amherst 


Massachusetts 


1821 


9 


243 


10,750 


Erown University . . 


Rhode Island 


1764" 


8 


167 


11,600 


Yale 


Connecticut 


1700* 


27 


354 


19,000 


Washington. . . . 


Connecticut 


1824 


8 


43 


4,500 


Wesleyan University 


Connecticut 


1831- 


6 


95 


5,000 


Columbia .... 


New York 


1754- 


11 


100 


14,000 


Union 


New York 


1795- 


10 


232 


14,270 


Hamilton .... 


New York 


1812 


6 


115 


6,200 


Hamilton Institution . 


New York 


1819 


7 


180 


2,600 


Geneva 


New York 


1823 


7 


44 


1,970 


New York University 


New York 


1831 


16 


226 




College of New Jersey 


New Jersey 


1746* 


' 13 


215 


11,000 


Rutgers 


New Jersey 


1775* 


6 


93 


6,000 


University of Penn. . 


Pennsylvania 


1755* 


7 


93 


2,000 


Dickenson .... 


Pennsylvania 


17831 


4 


90 


2,000 


Jefferson 


Pennsylvania 


1802 


7 


175 


3,400 


Washington. . . . 


Pennsylvania 


1806 


7 


47 


1,500 


Alleghany .... 


Pennsylvania 


1806 


4 


120 


8,000 


Western University . 


Pennsylvania 


1820 


4 


50 


500 


Pennsylvanian . . . 


Pennsylvania 


1832 


6 


90 




Lafayette .... 


Pennsylvania 


1832 


4 


23 




Bristol Institution . . 


Pennsylvania 


1833 


6 


80 




Newark 


Delaware 


1833 


5 


75 


1,000 


St. John's .... 


Maryland 


1784* 


6 


58 


3,000 


St. Mary's .... 


Maryland 


1799* 


24 


193 


10,500 


Mount St. Mary's . 


Maryland 


1830 


25 


90 


7,000 


Mount Hope . . . 


Maryland 


1832, 


6 


45 




Georgetown .... 


Dis. Columbia 


1799 


17 


134 


12,000 


Columbian .... 


Dis. Columbia 


1821 


5 


50 


4,000 


William and Mary . 


Virginia 


1693, 


6 


15 


4,200 



STATISTICS. 



475 



Colleges in the United States, continued. 



Name. 



Hampden Sydney- 
Washington. . . . 
University of Virginia 
Randolph Macon . . 
University of N. C. . 
Charleston .... 
College of S. Carolina 
University of Georgia 
University of Alabama 
Lagrange . 
Spring Hill 
Jefferson . 
Oakland . 
Louisiana 
Greeneville 
Washington 
University of Nashville 
East Tennessee 
Jackson . . 
Transylvania , 
St. Joseph's . 
Centre. . . 
Augusta . . 
Cumberland . 
Georgetown . , 
University of Ohio 
Miami University 
Franklin . . . 
Western Reserve 
Kenyon . . . 
Granville . . . 
Marietta . . . 
Oberlin Institution 
Willoughby University 

Indiana 

South Hanover. . . 

Wabash 

Illinois 

St. Louis University . 
St. Mary's .... 
Marion 



Virginia 

Virginia 

Virginia 

Virginia 

North Carolina 

South Carolina 

South Carolina 

Georgia 

Alabama 

Alabama 

Alabama 

Mississippi 

Mississippi 

Louisiana 

Tennessee 

Tennessee 

Tennessee 

Tennessee 

Tennessee 

Kentucky 

Kentucky 

Kentucky 

Kentucky 

Kentucky 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

Ohio 

Ohio 

Ohio 

Ohio 

Ohio 

Ohio 

Ohio 

Ohio 

Indiana 

Indiana 

Indiana 

Illinois 

Missouri 

Missouri 

Missouri 





Prof. 


Stu- 


Found- 


and 


dents. 


ed. 


Tut. 




1774/ 


6 


90 


1812 


4 


46 


1819 


9 


211 


1831 


4 


120 


1791' 


7 


100 


1735» 


5 


100 


1804 


6 


50 


1785* 


9 


126 


1828 


6 


104 


1830 




120 


1830 


8 


85 


1802 




70 


1831 


3 


60 


1825 


4 


15 


1794^ 


2 


30 


1794* 


2 


35 


1806 


6 


105 


1807 


2 


45 


1S30 


6 


100 


1798 » 


3 


30 


1819 


14 


130 


1822 


8 


66 


1823 


6 


75 


1825 


3 


72 


1830 


4 


36 


1821 


5 


45 


1824 


7 


126 


1821 


4 


40 


1826 


7 


54 


1828 


9 


67 


1832 


6 


153 


1833 


4 


93 


1834 


4 




1834 


8 




1827 


5 


90 


1829 


9 


230 


1833 


3 


40 


1830 


5 


95 


1829 


11 


200 


1830 


15 


124 


1831 


7 


50 



8,200 
1,500 

10,500 
3,050 
4,200 
3,500 

10,000 
6,500 
3,600 



350 
3,600 

500 
5,100 
3,000 
1,250 
3,900 
5,000 
1,600 
2,000 

500 
1,200 
2,000 
3,700 
1,200 
1,900 
4,300 
3,000 



1,000 



1,500 
7,500 
6,000 



476 



STATISTICS. 



No. VII.— THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES. 









Denomina- 


Tu- 


Stu- 




Name. 


State. 


Date. 


tion. 


tors. 


dents- 


Books. 


Bangor .... 


Maine 


1816 


Cong. 


5 


27 


2,300 


Andover . . . 


Mass. 


1808 


Cong. 


3 


152 


11,000 


Harvard . . . 


Mass. 


1824 


Unitn. 


3 


36 




Newton . . . 


Mass.- 


1825 


Baptist 


3 


53 


1,800 


Yale 


Conn. 


1822 


Cong. 


3 


53 


2,000 


E. Windsor . . 


Conn. 


1834 


Cong. 


3 


17 


2,000 


New- York . . 


N.Y. 


1819 


Episcopal 


6 


80 


3,880 


Auburn . . . 


N.Y. 


1821 


Presby. 


4 


56 


4,500 


Hamilton . . . 


N.Y. 


1820 


Baptist 


6 


88 


2,250 


Hartwick . . . 


N.Y. 


1816 


Lutheran 


2 


3 


1,000 


New Brunswick . 


N.Jy. 


1784, 


Dch. B,ef. 


3 


24 




Princeton . . . 


N. Jy. 


1813 


Presby. 


5 


140 


7,000 


Burlington . . 


N.Jy. 




Baptist 








Gettysburg . . 


Penn. 


1826 


Evan. Lu. 


2 


25 


7,000 


York 


Penn. 


1825 


G. Ref. 


2 


20 




Alleghany T. . . 


Penn. 


1828 


Presby. 


2 


29 


4,000 


Canonsburg, . . 


Penn. 




Assn. Ch. 


1 






Pittsburg . . . 


Penn. 


1828 


Ass. Ref. 


1 


19 




Fairfax .... 


Virg. 




Episcopal 


3 


39 


2,000 


Pr. Edward's Co. . 


Virg. 


1824 


Presby. 


3 


35 


4,200 


Richmond . . . 


Virg. 


1832 


Baptist 


3 


60 




Columbia . . . 


S.Ca. 


1829 


Presby. 


3 


22 


1,800 


Lexington . . . 


S. Ca. 


1832 


Lutheran 


2 


14 


1,200 


Furman .... 


S-Ca. 


1833 


Baptist 


2 


30 


1,000 


Eaton .... 


Geor. 




Baptist 




10 




Maryville . . . 


Tenn. 


1821 


Presby. 


2 


22 


5,000 


Lane 


Ohio 


1829 


Presby. 


3 


42 




Gambier . . . 


Ohio 


1828 


Episcopal 




11 




Hudson .... 


Ohio 




Presby. 




3 




Alton .... 


Ohio 




Baptist 




12 




Columbus . • . 


Ohio 




Lutheran 








Granville . . . 


Ohio 


1832 


Baptist 


1 


30 


500 


South Hanover . 


Inda. 




Presby. 


2 


10 




Baltimore . . . 


Ma. Ld. 




R. Cath. 








Charleston . . . 


Ma. Ld. 




R. Cath. 








Washington Co. . 


Ky. 




R. Cath. 








Perry County . . 


Mo. 




R. Cath. 









IiEAVITT, LORD & Co., 

PUBLISHERS and BOOKSELLERS, 

Have in Press, and will immediately publish 

THE PHILOSOPHY OF BENEVOLENCE, by Rev. P. Church, 
Pastor of the Baptist Church in Rochester, New- York. 

The ELEMENTS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, by Rev. Francis 
Wayland, D.D. 

SACRED LYRICS, or DEVOTIONAL POETRY,— 24mo. from the 
13th London Edition. 

A New Edition of BARNES' NOTES ON THE GOSPELS, revised to 
suit the views of the denomination of Baptist Christians. The following is 
the preface of the Publishers to the Notes on the Gospels. — 

The Notes on the Gospels, prepared by Mr. Barnes, have been published three years, and have 
obtained the favor of the Christian public so far as to meet with a very extensive circulation. The 
fact that they are adapted to Sabbatli Schools, has been the occasion of their having been introduced 
not only into schools connected with the religious denomination to which Mr. Barnes belongs, but 
also extensively into those connected with other denominations. Many of the teachers of schools 
under the care of Baptist churches, had also introduced them, and were satisfied with the general plan 
and execution of the " Notes." But it is well known, that while between the Baptist and Calvinistic 
churches there is no material difference of doctrine, yet they have differed in their expositions of the 
texts in the New Testament, which relate to tlie subject of Christian baptism, and that this difference 
is, in their view, of so much importance, as greatly to obstruct the currency of books in their deno- 
mination, which present an exposition different from theirs. It was suggested, therefore, to the 
Publishers, by much respected gentlemen connected with that denomination, that perhaps, while the 
main structure and form of the " Notes " should be retained, yet that a few changes might be made 
that would remove this obstacle to a free circulation among them, and permit them to recommend 
and use the work without this restriction. At this suggestion, and with the consent of Mr. Barnes, 
the Publishers have committed the work to the Rev. Mr. Stow, who has carefully revised it, and 
changed such expressions as would bring it into accordance with the views of the Baptist denomina- 
tion. 

Of course Mr. Barnes is not to be regarded as responsible for these changes, nor are they to be 
understood as expressing his views, or as implying that his views have undergone any change on the 
proper interpretation of these passages. He is responsible only for giving permission in a work 
which is still essentially and almost entirely his, for Christian liberty to brethren of another denomi- 
nation, to express their views in a work of his, on a matter that he does not deem vital in regard to 
Christian doctrine. His views are expressed in the original edition ; the views expressed in this, on 
these points, are to be regarded as those of Mr. Stow, and of the Baptist denomination. 

In thie edition, the changes whicb have been made by Mr. Stow are indicated at the commencement 
and the close by brackets, [ ]. The changes refer simply and solely to the places which speak of 
baptism. The other parts ofthe work are struck from the stereotype plates which have been used 
in the former editions. The changes which have beeto made by Mr. Stow occur in the following 
pages, viz. vol. i. pp. 31, 33, 34, 37, 39, 189, 310, 341, 342, 375, 376, and vol. ii. pp. 166, 190, 197, 198. 
Though the number of pages that have been modified may appear to be considerable, yet both the 
Reviser and tlie Publishers have been surprised that it was needful to change so small an amount of 
matter. In the first volume the aggregate of the chagnes made by Mr. Stow does not exceed one 
page and a half; and in volume second amounts to less than one page. 
_ To prevent the possibility of error in purchasing the volumes, the Publishers have changed the 
title-page so as to indicate prominently the edition, and have also indicated it on the back of the 
volume. 

The Publishers are gratified for the favor with which the work has been received by the Christian 
public. They have only to express the wish, that, under the Divine blessing, it may be still made 
extensively the means of enlightening the rising generation in the knowledge of divine truth, and 
guiding them in the way of holiness and life. LEAVITT, LORD St. CO. 

New Fork, 180 Broadway, June, 1836. , 

Mr. Barnes has also prepared a volume on the ACTS OF APOSTLES 
■and one on ROMANS, with Question Books for the use of Bible Classes 
and Sabbath Schools. Nearly 50,000 vols, of these remarkably populai 
commentaries, have been sold within a short time of their publication. 



Works Publis/leof by Leavitt, Lord, $ Co. 

RECOMMENDATIONS OF BARNES' NOTES. 
From Abbott's Religious Magazine. 
We have previously, in a brief notice, recommended to our readers 
Barnes' Notes on the Gospels. But a more extended acquaintance with 
that work has very much increased our sense of its value. We never 
have opened any commentary on the Gospels, which has afforded us so 
much satisfaction. Without intending, in the least degree, to disparage 
the many valuable commentaries which now aid the Christian in the 
study of the Bible, we cannot refrain from expressing our gratitude to the 
Author, for the interesting and profitable instructions he has given us.— 
The volumes are characterized by the following merits. 

1. The spirit which imbues them is highly devotional. It is a devotion 
founded on knowledge. It is a zeal guided by discretion. 

2. The notes are eminently intellectual. Apparent difficulties are fairly 
met. They are either explained, or the want of a fully satisfactory expla- 
nation admitted. There is none of that slipping by a knot which is loo 
common in many commentaries. 

3. The notes are written in language definite, pointed and forcible. There 
is no interminable flow of lazy words. Every word is active and does its 
work well. There are no fanciful expositions. There are no tedious dis- 
play of learning. 

There may be passages in which we should diffe- from the writer in 
some of the minor shades of meaning. There may be sometimes an un- 
guarded expression which has escaped our notice. We have not scruti- 
nized the volumes with the eye of a critic. But we have used them 
in our private reading. We have used them in our family. And we have 
invariably read them with profit and delight. 

We have just opened the book to select some passage as an illustration 
of the spirit of the work. The Parable of the rich man and Lazarus now 
lies before us. The notes explanatory of the meaning of the parables, are 
full and to the point. The following are the inferences, which Mr. Barnes 
deduces. 

" From tnis impressive and instructive parable, we may learn, 

"l. That the souls of men do not die with their bodies. 

"2. That the souls of men are conscious after death ; that they do not 
sleep, as some have supposed, till the morning of the resurrection. 

" 3. That the righteous are taken to a place of happiness immediately 
at death, and the wicked consigned to misery. 

" 4. That wealth does not secure us from death. 
" How vain are riches to secure 
Theii aaughty owners from the grave. 

"The rich, tne beautifuL the gay, as well as the poor, go down to the 
grave. All their pomp anu apparel; all their honors, their* palaces and 
their gold cannot save them. Death can as easily find his way into the 
mansions of the rich as into the cottages of the poor, and the rich shall 
turn to the same corruption, and soon, like the poor, be undistinguished 
from common dust, and be unknown. 
w 6. We should not envy the condition of the rich. 
" On slippery rocks I see them stand. 
And fiery billows roll below. 

•* 6. We should strive for a better inheritance, than can be possessed in 
this life. , . . ~ . ' ; 

" ' Now I esteem their mirth and wine. 
Too dear to purchase with my blood, 
Lord 'tis enough that thou art mine, 
My life, my portion, and my God.' " 

**7. The sufferings of the wicked in hell will be indiscnbably great. 
Think what is represented by torment, by burning flame, by insupportable 
thirst, by that state when a single drop of water would afford relief. Re- 
member that all this is but a representation of the pains of the damned, 
and that this will have no relief, day nor night, but will continue from 
s 



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RECOMMENDATIONS OF BARNES' NOTES. 

year to year, and age to age, and without any end, and you have a faint 
view of the sufferings of those who arem hell. 

"8. There is a place of suffering beyond the grave, a hell. If there is 
not, then this parable has no meaning. It is impossible to make anything 
of it unless it is designed to teach that. 

" 9. There will never be any escape from those gloomy regions. There 
is a gulf fixed— fixed, not moveable. Nor can any of the damned beat a 
pathway across this gulf, to the world of holiness. 

" 10.. We see the amazing folly of those, who suppose there may be an 
end to the sufferings of the wicked, and who on that supposition seem 
willing to go down to hell to suffer a long time, rather than^o at once to 
heaven. If man were to suffer but a thousand years, or even one year, 
why should he be so foolish as to choose that suffering, rather than go at 
once to heaven, and be happy at once when he dies'? 

" 1 1. God gives us warning sufficient to prepare for death. He has sent 
his word, his servants, his son ; he warns us by his Spirit and his provi- 
dence, by the entreaties of our friends, and by the death of sinners. He 
offers us heaven, and he threatens hell. If all this will not move sinners, 
what would do it % There is nothing that would. 

" 12. God will give us nothing farther to warn us. No dead man will 
come to life, to tell us what he has seen. If he did, we would not believe 
him. Religion appeals to man, not by ghosts and frightful apparitions. 
It appeals to their reason, their conscience, their hopes, and their fears. — 
It sets life and death soberly before men, and if they will not choose the 
former they must die. If you will not hear the Son of God, and the truth 
of the Scriptures, there is nothing which you will or can hear; you will 
never be persuaded, and never will escape the place of torment." 

If we have any influence with our readers, we would recommend them 
to buy these volumes. There is hardly any Christian in the Zand, who will 
not find them an invaluable treasure. 

Extract of a Letter from a distinguished Divine of New England. 

It (Barnes' Notes) supplies an important and much needed desideratum 
in the means of Sabbath School and Bible Class instruction. 

Without descending to minute criticism, or attempting a display of 
learning, it embraces a wide range of general reading, and brings out the 
results of an extended and careful investigation of the most important 
sources of Biblical knowledge. 

The style of the work is as it should be, plain, simple, direct ; often 
vigorous and striking; always serious and earnest. 

It abounds in fine analyses of thought and trains of argument, admira- 
bly adapted to aid Sabbath School Teachers in their responsible duties: 
often too, very useful to Ministers when called suddenly to prepare for 
religious meetings, and always helpful in conducting the exercises of a 
Bible Class. 

Without vouching for the correctness of every explanation and sentiment 
contained in the Notes, its author appears to have succeeded very nappily 
in expressing the mind of the Holy Spirit as revealed in those parts of the 
New Testament which he has undertaken to explain. 

The theology taught in these volumes, drawn as it is from the pure 
fountain of truth, is eminently common sense and practical. 

It has little to do with theory or speculation. 

The author appears not to be unduly wedded to any particular school or 
system of theology, but to have a mind trained to habits of independent 
thinking, readily submissive to the teachings of inspiration,. but indisposed 
to call any man master, or to setup anything in opposition to the plain 
testimony of the Bible. 

We would here say, once for all, we consider Barnes' Notes the best 
oommentary for families we have seen — JV. E. Spectator. 



Works Published by Leavitt, Lord, $ Co. 

RECOMMENDATIONS OF BARNES' NOTES. / *- 

If the degree of popular favor with which a work of biblical instruc- 
tion is received by an intelligent Christian community be a just criterion 
of its value, the volumes which the Rev. Mr. Barnes is giving the Church 
are entitled to a high place in the scale of merit.— N. Y. Evangelist. 

From Review of the Gospels in Biblical Repertory. 

We have only to say further, by way of introduction, that we admire 
the practical wisdom evinced by Mr. Barnes in selecting means by which 
to act upon the public mind, as well as his self-denying diligence in labor- 
ing to supply the grand defect of our religious education. Masterly expo- 
sition, in a popular form, is the great desideratum of the Christian public. 

The Notes are always readable, and almost always to the point. No- 
thing appears to have been said for the sake of saying something. This is 
right. It is the only principle on which our books of popular instruction 
ean be written with success. Its practical value is evinced by the exten- 
sive circulation of the work before us, as well as by the absence of that 
heaviness and langour, which inevitably follow from a verbose style, or the 
want of a definite object. 

Mr. Barnes' explanations are in general brief and clear, comprising 
the fruit of very diligent research. 

We have been much pleased with his condensed synopsis of the usual 
arguments on some disputed points, as well as with his satisfactory solu- 
tion of objections. 

But Mr. Barnes' has not been satisfied with merely explaining the 
language of the text. He has taken pains to add those illustrations which 
verbal exposition, in the strict sense cannot furnish. The book is rich in 
archaeological information. All that could well be gathered from the com- 
mon works on biblical antiquities, is wrought into the Notes upon those 
passages which need such elucidation. 

In general we admire the skill with which he sheds the light of archae- 
ology and history upon the text of scripture, and especially the power of 
compression which enables him to crowd a mass of knowledge into a 
narrow space without obscurity. 

While the explanation of the text is the primary object kept in view 
throughout these notes, religious edification is by no means slighted. 
Mr. Barnes' devotional and practical remarks bear a due proponion to 
the whole. 

From what we have said it follows of course, that the work before us 
has uncommon merit. Correct explanation, felicitous illustration, and 
impressive application, are the characteristic attributes of a successful 
commentary. Though nothing can be added in the way of commendation 
which is not involved in something said already, there are two detached 
points which deserve perhaps to be distinctly stated. We are glad to see 
that Mr. Barnes not only shuns the controversial mode of exposition, but 
often uses expressions on certain disputed subjects, which in their obvious 
sense, convey sound doctrine in its strictest form. What variety of 
meaning these expressions may admit of, or are likely to convey, we do 
not know ; but we are sure that in their simple obvious meaning they are 
strongly Calvanistic in the good old sense. 

The other point to which we have alluded is Mr. Barnes frankness 
and decision in condemning fanatical extravagance and inculcating Christ- 
ian prudence. 

With respect to Mr. Barnes' style we have little to say beyond a gene- 
ral commendation. The pains which he has wisely taken to be hriefc 
have compelled him to write well. 



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